Doncaster Conservative MP votes against weekly coronavirus tests for NHS staff

Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher voted against the move, proposed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, alongside Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Jon Ashworth and Liz Kendall calling for greater protective measures to be rolled out in the health system.

Responding to Labour’s calls, Royal College of Nursing director of nursing Susan Masters said testing NHS staff for COVID-19 was critical as discussions around resuming normal services increase.

“Testing of health and care workers and the people they are caring for – even if they have no symptoms – has to be a priority,” she said.

Dr Allin-Khan tweeted: “Yesterday, (we) brought a motion to Parliament calling on the Government to introduce weekly testing of NHS and care staff.

“331 Conservative MPs voted against it, even though they spent many Thursdays clapping for carers.”