Some UK government staff in Wales were told to travel to England for a Covid-19 test.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has written to some staff in Wales to instruct them to drive to test centres in England if they exhibit symptoms.
In a letter dated May 4 from the DWP seen by WalesOnline, a DWP employee is told: "We have managed to resolve many access to test issues for colleagues in England and Scotland but Wales in unfortunately proving to be more of a challenge."
It added that though DWP workers are listed "critical workers in Wales, we do not currently have priority access to testing arranged by the Welsh Government". It said the reason for this is they Welsh Government is prioritising access for health and social care workers, police, fire service and prison staff.
The letter therefore advises to travel to a test site in England instead.
When approached by WalesOnline a Welsh Government spokeswoman said that it was not the case that DWP workers needed to travel to England.
The spokeswoman said: “At present to book a test, critical workers and their employers should follow the nearest local referral arrangement in place, as detailed on our web-site. Public Health Wales have been in contact with DWP about the referral system in Wales.”
The DWP told WalesOnline it has now updated its advice saying that staff should seek testing in Wales if required.
A DWP spokeswoman said: "This is old guidance. DWP staff across all nations are now prioritised for testing and are aware of how to access it in their areas.”
Plaid Cymru MS Helen Mary Jones called the situation “absurd”.
The shadow minister for economy, tackling poverty and transport said: “We should not be in the position where key workers in Wales have to travel to England to receive access to a test.
“In Wales the message is clear – stay as close to your home as possible. However, if you’re a DWP colleague living in Wales exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, you’re being asked to drive across the country to receive priority access to a test. This situation is not only absurd, the decision making behind it defies logic.
“Plaid Cymru has long been calling for increased testing capacity, and yet we learn that what we have isn’t being used and our key workers are being asked to travel to England to receive a test. I would be interested to understand how the Welsh Government can deem a DWP key worker ineligible for priority access, when they have this in England.”
