HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock said he was “setting the goal” of reaching 100,000 tests for coronavirus per day by the end of April.

The Cabinet minister defended his decision to prioritise testing of patients over NHS staff and said he thought any health secretary would have done the same.

Hancock said: “I understand why NHS staff want tests, so they can get back to the front line, of course I do.

“But I took the decision that the first priority has to be the patients for whom the results of a test could be the difference in treatment that is the difference between life and death.

“I believe anybody in my shoes would have taken the same decision.”

The Health Secretary also said more than £13 billion of historic NHS debt will be written off to place trusts in a “stronger position” to respond to the crisis.

Hancock, speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, said he had made £300 million available for community pharmacies and that he wanted to make sure “every part” of the health and care system is supported.

He added: “Today, to help NHS trusts to deliver what’s needed without worrying about past finances, I can announce that I’m writing off £13.4bn of historic NHS debt.

“This landmark step will not only put the NHS in a stronger position to be able to respond to this global coronavirus pandemic, but it will ensure that our NHS has stronger foundations for the future too.”

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