News from Caroline Russell: Mayor agrees on ‘cracking idea’ for cheaper LFTs for Londoners

The Mayor congratulated Green Assembly Member Caroline Russell today for her ‘cracking idea’ of London councils providing affordable lateral flow tests for Londoners who are cut out of the Government’s measures to restrict free tests to certain groups.

Government health protections were rolled back in February [1], however the new measures left out people who still needed frequent, free tests and made no provision for people who cannot afford to buy tests.

Caroline asked the Mayor to use his Strategic Co-ordination Group, which managed London’s response to the coronavirus crisis and joined up councils, health services and national government, to coordinate council procurement across London to provide access to affordable tests for Londoners struggling to pay for tests.

The Mayor said:

“The suggestion I think from the Member is a sensible one – use the procurement power to try and reduce the cost and the councils actually know who these families are who don’t quite satisfy the safety net that the GPs can provide... Without making any promises, I think it’s a cracking idea.” [2]

Caroline Russell says:

“I’m glad the Mayor has recognised the value of this simple idea. It is not fair that Londoners living on the brink, already facing a cost of living crisis, are forking out for tests they cannot afford.

“People who need to test regularly, for example, those not included in the government’s restrictive list or those who have to protect their vulnerable friends and family, should not be stung with extra costs just for being responsible.

“We should be working at a pan-London level to make sure that people working or living with clinically vulnerable citizens, abandoned by central Government, can access tests that do not break the bank.

“I look forward to seeing the Mayor take action on this and working with him to keep protecting Londoners from ongoing coronavirus risk.”