NHS Confederation - Test and trace must do better as England’s second lockdown begins

5 Nov 2020 03:15 PM

Dr Layla McCay, director at the NHS Confederation, responded to the latest test and trace figures

“If England’s second lockdown is successful it should ease the pressure on test and trace, giving it breathing space. But the test and trace system must take this opportunity and step up now because the latest figures show just how much work it still has to do.

“Positive cases are continuing to rise but only 59.9 per cent of their identified contacts were reached and asked to self-isolate last week, well below the 80 per cent that scientists tell us is needed to make the system effective.

“Turnaround times for test results continue to be longer than they were at the end of June and it is imperative that this improves. The sooner people get their results, the more chance we have to stop the virus spreading.

“Lockdowns are temporary, and the aim for this one should be not just to save lives and help the NHS to provide as many services as possible, but to bring the number of cases down enough to allow the struggling test and trace system to be more effective. Our members tell us that it is vital that the system improves, rapidly and significantly. Otherwise, a national lockdown simply kicks the can down the road.

“The lifting of the lockdown without a viable regional alternative and vastly improved test and trace system as we face up to the challenges of winter could be grave.” 

NHS Test and Trace hits record testing capacity as over 10 million people tested at least once