The deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

"We have been calling for greater clarity on how and when testing for COVID-19 will be scaled up to include large numbers of NHS staff, as well as patients, and how different groups will be prioritised as testing capacity increases.

"We very much welcome tonight’s announcement that an alliance has been formed to boost the testing capacity for frontline workers.

"Testing of staff  in the most critical frontline positions will start this weekend and will mean that staff in Intensive Care Units, A&E and paramedics can be clear about whether they have COVID-19.

"This testing now needs to be done at pace to ensure that staff who have been displaying symptoms, but are not tested positive can get back to work and care for the country’s critically ill patients."