THE Government has said it will write off £13.4 billion in hostoric debt owed by NHS Trusts in England in order to help the health service cope better with the coronavirus crisis and its aftermath.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock was speaking at the daily Covid-19 briefing earlier this evening.
Mr Hancock has stated that by the end of April, 100,000 tests a day will be being carried out. The UK Governnment has been criticised for a lack of testing, but the Health Secretary said that it was important only to proceed with reliable tests, as inaccurate tests would be dangerous.
Mr Hancock was questioned about a shortfall in personal protective equipment (PPE) for medics, health care workers and other front line employees – he said that the problem was not one of stocks but of distribution, and that ministers were working ’night and day’ to solve the issues.