Four Reasons Why NHS Test And Trace Isn't Working
NHS Test and Trace is vital in the fight against coronavirus – but it’s not working.
Now the long-awaited Covid-19 app has finally arrived, we take a look at what’s gone wrong with the system that aims to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
It’s not testing enough
The UK’s Pillar 1 testing for hospital inpatients and health and care workers, for which results are analysed at NHS and Public Health England labs, appears to be meeting demand. The problem lies with Pillar 2 testing, which focuses on testing people in the community – at local drive-in and walk-in sites.
In recent weeks stories have abounded of people unable to access tests, being told there are no appointments available at centres in England and no home tests kits available either. In some cases people were told to travel hundreds of miles and wait in long queues at testing sites.
One whistleblower told HuffPost UK they were working at a testing centre where work was running at a fraction of capacity, saying: “We’re supposed to turn people around and say we’re too busy, but we’re not busy.”
Last week it was revealed up to three quarters of a million Covid test requests are going unanswered every day.
Government statistics published last week said 25% of people getting Covid tests between September 8 and 14 had to travel thirteen miles or more, with 5% having to travel 47 miles or more to get tested.
Dido Harding, chair of NHS Test and Trace, has defended testing failures by saying there was an “unexpected” surge in demand, with many people without symptoms said to be seeking checks.
It’s not quick enough
A fast turnaround for test results is crucial to tackling the spread of Covid-19. The government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has stressed the importance of delivering rapid test results, ideally within 24 hours.
Boris Johnson has previously told parliament that he wanted a 100% completion rate by the end of June, but that ambition has never been met.
