Coronavirus: Health secretary Matt Hancock denies claims he is failing to social distance at work

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Matt Hancock has denied claims he has failed to follow social distancing rules put in place to combat coronavirus while in the office.

In an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the health secretary addressed claims made by a senior NHS leader who said he held regular video calls surrounded by ten to 20 colleagues.

The Health Service Journal reported that Mr Hancock’s meetings were regularly attended by Department of Health and Social Care permanent secretary Chris Wormald, director general for finance and group operations, David Williams, and other director generals, advisers, administrative support and others.

The anonymous senior NHS official, who claimed to have witnessed the meetings, was quoted as saying: “It looks like the health secretary and his colleagues think ‘social distancing’ is for other people and that coming into the office is necessary for senior leaders.”

He accused the meetings of “encouraging presenteeism” — unnecessary attendance for the sake of appearance — and said they made it difficult to “send the right messages about… staying home and staying safe”.

Before one of the meetings, the source told HSJ, attendees criticised the former Scottish chief medical officer, who resigned last week after it emerged she broke social distancing guidelines by visiting her second home twice.

The source said: “I thought, do they realise how hypocritical they sound?”

Mr Hancock dismissed the claims, and said on Saturday morning: “I work from home whenever I can, I’m at home now. But I do have to go into the office and sometimes the best way to get something one is to have some of the key people in the room and obviously some on video.

“I’ve spread out the chairs in the office precisely to follow the social distancing rules, so we do follow the rules in the office. It’s very important that people follow the social distancing rules in the same way that people should stay at home where at all possible,” he added.

The government has been battling criticism over what many have seen as a failure to follow its own guidelines, particularly after Boris Johnson, Mr Hancock himself and health minister Nadine Dorries contracted the virus.

The prime minister was admitted to hospital last weekend, and then went into intensive care for three nights after his symptoms worsened. He is now back in a hospital ward and is said to be making 'very good progress'.

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick was also under scrutiny earlier this week after he made a visit to his elderly parents’ home, more than 40 miles from his own, to deliver medicine.

Mr Jenrick said he obeyed social distancing rules at all time during the visit. Government guidelines state you can help elderly relatives by “dropping shopping or medication at their door” but visiting anyone who lives outside your own home is not advised.