Disabled people 'frustrated' at how difficult it is to get RATs for support workers
Friday, 4 March 2022
Patsy Wakefield requires support workers to help her live an independent life.
The Wellington resident employs five staff throughout the week, but is struggling to get rapid antigen tests (RATs) for surveillance testing. She calculates she needs 12 RATs a week for herself and support workers.
It’s an “extremely frustrating situation”, Wakefield said, who has limb girdle muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Health launched a free RAT requester website, but tests are only available to household contacts of a positive Covid-19 case and anyone who may have symptoms.
**READ MORE:
* Covid-19: Auckland testing centres will give out rapid antigen tests to all
* Covid-19: Confusion as Ministry insists there are plenty of rapid antigen tests in the country
**
Wakefield’s individualised funding provider, Manawanui, has spent the last three weeks trying to source and supply RATs for their support workers.
In an email to its customers on February 25, said: “We have had an extremely difficult time sourcing these tests despite numerous attempts through the Ministry ordering system. I have raised this issue in several forums and have been assured that we will receive supply – currently we have NONE.”
As a solution, Wakefield tried to sign up to the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) website as a business to order the tests because she is an employer of the staff who support her. But she was not a registered business and therefore didn’t have a NZ Business Number (NZBN) to access the tests.
On Thursday evening, Manawanui finally received a response from the Ministry of Health that it was working on getting a supply of RATs for individualised funding providers and its customers. There are more than 8000 users of individualised funding in the country.
Manawanui chief executive Marsha Marshall said she is hopeful a solution for a supply of RATs will be resolved on Friday, but are yet to hear back on what the Ministry’s plans are.
She understands the Ministry doesn’t want to send out RATs for surveillance testing “because they won’t be able to sustain the supply”, and it prevents people stocking up when they don’t need them.
However, the Ministry needs to be able to supply RATs for disabled people in order for their support to continue, she said. Every disabled person’s situation is unique and the need for surveillance testing depends on the context of a person’s needs.
If someone wants surveillance testing of support workers because they are immunocompromised and more at risk to severe illness if they catch Covid-19, the process to getting tests should be easier, said Marshall. Right from the beginning of the pandemic there has been “fear and angst” for some people with disabilities..
Wakefield agrees and said: “The Ministry of Health hasn't planned for the disabled community, and it’s been like that through the whole pandemic”.
Send your tips, story ideas and comments to poutiaki@stuff.co.nz
In response to questions regarding disabled people accessing RATs kits, a Ministry of Health spokesperson said most in-home care workers will be covered by the Close Contact Exemption Scheme (CCES), including Disability Support Services and Home and Community Support Services.
They said critical workers can collect free RATs as part of the public health response. Any support worker not covered by the CCES, who becomes unwell or is a household contact, can access free RATs through the rapid antigen test requestor site.
With regard to surveillance testing for support workers, they said getting boosted is the best protection against Omicron and lowers the chances of becoming very sick or being hospitalised.
“Although many who receive in-home care may be more vulnerable to the impact of Omicron, the risk that is posed to them by non-symptomatic in-home care workers, who are not household contacts of Covid-19 cases, is no greater than the risk posed by visiting family members or contact with others in the community.”
Wakefield said she was 'not impressed' with the ministry's response, especially since she spends most of her time at home.
'My carers are here for around three hours, up close,' she said. 'I think [the ministry] ought to understand the needs and anxiety of disabled people because I am more at risk if I catch it.'