Gillian Keegan apologises for continuing meeting despite testing positive for Covid on lateral flow
Tory health minister Gillian Keegan apologises for ‘error of judgement’ after she continued meeting with three bereaved fathers despite testing positive for Covid on lateral flow
Gillian Keegan took lateral flow test ahead of meeting at Westminster yesterdayShe received a positive result while with fathers who lost daughters to suicideBut, instead of leaving to self-isolate, she briefly continued with their consentHealth minister apologised, with Sajid Javid ‘continuing to support her in role’ Currently, anyone who tests positive for Covid must self-isolate ‘straight away’
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Tory health minister Gillian Keegan has apologised for an ‘error of judgement’ after continuing a meeting despite testing positive for Covid-19.
The MP for Chichester took a ‘precautionary’ lateral flow test ahead of a planned visit at Westminster yesterday with Mike Palmer, Andy Airey and Tim Owen, who lost their daughters to suicide.
She received a positive result during the meeting but, instead of leaving to self-isolate, briefly continued with the bereaved fathers’ consent.
The minister for care and mental health has now recognised she should have immediately ended the visit, saying: ‘This was an error of judgment on my part.’
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has accepted Ms Keegan’s apology and ‘continues to support her in her role’.
Under current Covid rules in England, anyone who receives a positive result must self-isolate ‘straight away’.
Gillian Keegan (above) took a lateral flow test ahead of a planned visit at Westminster yesterday with Mike Palmer, Andy Airey and Tim Owen, who lost their daughters to suicide
The MP for Chichester received a positive result during the meeting but, instead of leaving to self-isolate, briefly continued with the bereaved fathers’ (pictured) consent
In a thread on Twitter published last night, Ms Keegan wrote: ‘Earlier today, ahead of a planned visit I took a precautionary LFD test which gave a positive result. I am now isolating at home and fortunately feel fine.
‘When I was told my test was positive I was listening to three fathers who had tragically lost their daughters to suicide.
‘I told them the result and took further precautions but with their consent, I stayed for a short period to hear their stories.
‘I should have immediately ended the meeting and on reflection this was an error of judgment on my part.
‘I fully recognise the importance of following the letter and spirit of the policies, so want to be upfront about what happened and to apologise for the mistake I made.’
A spokesman for Mr Javid said: ‘The Secretary of State has spoken with the minister who has taken responsibility for her actions and made a full apology.
‘He accepts her apology and continues to support her in her role.’
And asked what he would say to Ms Keegan, health minister Ed Argar told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: ‘I saw that Twitter thread, I think, late last night, I think it was.
‘She’s clearly issued a fulsome apology there, that she did make an error of judgment, she was open about that and she accepted she made an error of judgment.’
He added: ‘I understand – I haven’t spoken to or seen Gillian yesterday or today, so I don’t know first hand – but I understand from her Twitter thread that she set out the circumstances and apologised, and I understand that she has also spoken to and apologised to the Secretary of State, who has accepted that apology.’
The minister for care and mental health has now recognised she should have immediately ended the visit, saying: ‘This was an error of judgment on my part’
Ms Keegan was meeting the fathers, who had raised nearly £1million in memory of their daughters, to discuss putting suicide on the national curriculum
Ms Keegan was meeting the fathers, who had raised nearly £1million in memory of their daughters, to discuss putting suicide on the national curriculum.
Following the visit, Mr Airey said: ‘It was fantastic to sit down with the minister responsible for mental health and suicide prevention.
‘The fact that she listened to our story, was interested in what we had to say, and was keen to go forward and engage in the conversation is really positive.’
