NHS Test and Trace should be ditched for localised system, claims ex-chief scientific advisor
NHS Test and Trace is “not fit for purpose” and the firm running it should be ditched, a former chief scientific advisor claims.
Sir David King says the Government should move towards a localised system when their contract expires in two weeks.
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He warned the national call centres operated by Serco are failing to contact enough people to prevent a second deadly wave.
Blackburn with Darwen launched its own team of Covid hunters to combat a rise in infections in the area.
Its public health chief revealed the national one was “simply not tracing enough cases and contacts fast enough”. Other hotspot councils have vowed to do the same.
Sir David said: “With the current Test and Trace contract up for renewal in the next two weeks the Government has an opportunity to learn from their mistakes and move away from the current centralised system.
“It is clear from the figures being shared that this approach is simply not fit for purpose.
“The Government must redirect these funds to support a localised system based on the existing PHE infrastructure, particularly our GPs many of whom have been vocal in their lack of involvement to date.”
Boris Johnson has claimed NHS Test and Trace is “world beating”.
But the system managed to reach fewer than half of potential virus contacts last week and performance is worsening.
Some 10,000 contact tracers have only spoken to an average of 2.4 people each.
Serco boss Rupert Soames said the system has “very, very high success rates” but people often do not have their contacts’ phone numbers.
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A study published last week warned the UK faces a second wave twice as bad as the first if the system fails to improve before schools return.
Sir David said ministers must “row back” some of the reopening measures so kids can get back to class as a priority.
He added: “It is clear that many children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have suffered hugely through this pandemic by not being in the classroom.”
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