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MY WEEKLY UPDATE

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This evening, the government announced that their self-imposed target of
100,000 Covid-19 tests per day has been met. There are stories abound that
the government has changed the way it counts its tests, and now includes
home tests posted but not yet used in their overall figure.

Regardless of the precise figure, hitting 100,000 tests a day is not a
strategy and NHS Providers have labelled it a “red herring”. We need to
know that the government is putting in place adequate plans for a wider
test, trace and isolate strategy, instead of solely focusing on arbitrary
targets.

The government’s announcement earlier this week that all care home staff
and residents can be tested for Covid-19 was welcome, but in speaking with
care homes in my constituency, they tell me that accessing tests is not as
straightforward in reality. Care home managers tell me that they are
struggling to book tests for their staff, often spending hours on the phone
struggling to book tests for their staff, precious time that could have
spent caring for vulnerable residents.

The impact of Covid-19 on care homes was laid bare this week with the
release of ONS figures revealing that over 4,300 deaths, that's nearly a
quarter of all recorded coronavirus deaths in England and Wales, were in
care homes over a fortnight. These latest figures come weeks after I raised
my serious concerns with the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, on the
inadequate government guidance produced for care home staff dealing with
Covid-19 patients, which you can read by clicking the link below.

ITV CENTRAL INTERVIEW [4]

LETTER TO MATT HANCOCK [5]

LETTERS

FREE TRAVEL FOR ALL KEY WORKERS

I was pleased to join Liam Byrne and West Midlands Labour colleagues in
calling on the Metro Mayor to extend free public transport to all of our
key workers in the region who are on the frontline during this crisis.

READ THE LETTER HERE [6]

POSTAL WORKERS DAY

As well as continuing to collect, sort and deliver letters, parcels and
packets to 29 million addresses, 6 days a week, postal workers have stepped
up and showed themselves to be critical in our response to Covid-19.

READ THE LETTER HERE

Domestic Abuse Bill

The Domestic Abuse Bill returned for its second reading on Tuesday. The
Bill is a welcome opportunity and has the chance to be truly
transformative; but there are some vital changes which need to be made, as
highlighted by colleagues from across the House in the debate.

It is important that we do not overlook children when discussing abusive
households. One in five children and young people experience domestic abuse
during childhood. As a former social worker and children’s services
manager, I've seen the impact that experiencing or witnessing domestic
abuse can have on children. Children experience abuse too, and that is why
it is vital that the Domestic Abuse Bill specifically recognises this.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, please ring the 24-hour, free and
confidential National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Wednesday was my debut as Shadow Secretary of State for International
Development in DfID orals. I set out the case for why countries and
communities must engage cooperatively to avoid a scramble to procure goods,
PPE and medical equipment and to ensure there isn’t a worldwide shortage
which prices out the world’s most vulnerable.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

This week was World Immunisation Week, so I asked what the government is
doing to ensure UK public contributions to research and development of
Covid-19 diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines will be guaranteed to
everyone. You can hear the government's response by clicking the button
below.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

© 2020 Printed from an email sent by Preet Kaur Gill. Promoted by A.J Webb
on behalf of Preet Kaur Gill, both at 56 Wentworth Road, B17 9TA.

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