Commenting on the release of the first set of NHS Test and Trace
data, , Chief Executive of NHS
Providers said:
“These figures show good, rapid, progress on building the test
and trace system that is vital if we are to exit lockdown safely.
“It is encouraging to see over 75% of those who were reached and
asked to self isolate, agreed to do so within 24 hours. This
shows an important level of public confidence in the system. NHS
Test and Trace now needs to drive hard to get more of those
testing positive into its system, get higher rates of agreement
to self isolation and increase the speed with which contacts are
willing to enter that self isolation. It will also be important
to appropriately assure compliance.
“We particularly welcome the attention that has been devoted to
building a robust, appropriate and trustworthy set of data, in
partnership with the UK Statistics Authority. It’s a great pity
this approach wasn’t adopted earlier in the life of the testing
regime.
“We also strongly welcome the realistic public tone from NHS Test
and Trace leaders, highlighting how much still needs to be done.
This stands in stark contrast to what has gone before.
“We still need to ensure that every single NHS trust and care
home can get symptomatic patient and staff tests turned round
within 24 hours. We need detailed plans of when NHS trusts will
be able to regularly test all staff and all non-covid patients
needing treatment, so we can restart NHS services. And we still
need fully operational local surge plans to cope with any local
outbreaks.
“Public trust and confidence in this whole area is vital. That’s
built by competent operational leadership; robust, spin free,
data; and honest public assessments of what’s been achieved and
still remains to be done.
“The fact that we are now, finally, starting to see these shows
how much they were missing before.
“But there is still a way to go to build a fit for purpose
regime, let alone a world class one. We are also running risks
that could have been avoided had this work started many weeks
ago, as it should have done, not just at the beginning of May”.
