The health secretary has repeatedly refused to put a definitive start date on testing NHS staff for coronavirus. Speaking at today's daily government press conference, Matt Hancock said £13.4bn of historic NHS debt would be written off to place health trusts in a 'stronger position' to respond and cope with the pandemic.
And, crucially in the light of public opinion, he also announced a 'significant increase in testing', with a goal of '100,000 coronavirus tests a day' by the end of the month. "That is the goal and I am determined to get there," he said.
But Mr Hancock faced a series of specific questions over a start date for testing doctors, nurses and other frontline NHS staff.