7
Accepted
NHST&T’s effectiveness also relies on people complying with its processes, from coming forward to take...
Conclusion
NHST&T’s effectiveness also relies on people complying with its processes, from coming forward to take a test when they have symptoms, to self-isolating in line with requirements. NHST&T noted that the single most important part of the process was people coming forward for testing.18 The National Audit Office also highlighted the low compliance with self-isolation rules, with estimates of the proportion of people fully complying with requirements ranging from 10% to 59%. We are concerned that lack of 10 Qq 13, 43 11 C&AG’s Report, para 1.13 12 Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, Thirty-second SAGE meeting on Covid-19, 1 May 2020 13 Department of Health and Social Care, Weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace; Department of Health and Social care, The COVID-19 dashboard; Office for Statistics Regulation, Ed Humpherson to Stephen Balchin; NHS Test and Trace statistics (England) 14 Qq 27–30; Weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace; Department of Health and Social care 15 Office for Statistics Regulation, Ed Humpherson to Stephen Balchin; NHS Test and Trace statistics (England). 16 Department of Health & Social Care submission point 2; C&AG’s report, para 3.17 From November 2020, NHST&T no longer contacts household contacts individually; instead the person testing positive is asked to inform their household contacts that they need to self-isolate. This change was intended to “optimise… productivity… by minimising the number of calls made”. In terms of performance metrics, it increases the total proportion of contacts counted as reached, and the proportion reached within 24 hours. See also: https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/nhs-test-and-trace-statistics-england-methodology. 17 Department of Health & Social Care submission point 2; C&AG’s report, para 3.17 18 Qq 15, 16, 96 COVID-19: Test, track and trace (part 1) 11 compliance is undermining the effectiveness of the test and trace programme.19 When challenged, NHST&T acknowledged more could be done but
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the (implied) recommendation, committing to ongoing and enhanced publication of data on test and trace effectiveness and compliance, including ONS publishing monthly self-isolation data and plans to periodically publish R number estimates by June 2021.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: June 2021 1.2 NHS Test and Trace (NHST&T) is committed to transparency and to publishing data that is properly validated, meets the highest standards, and provides a meaningful gauge of its effectiveness. NHST&T publishes data across a wide range of business areas. 1.3 The total time taken to reach contacts after the ‘index case’ (the person who has tested positive) first reports symptoms and orders a test is a critical indicator. The government has begun publishing this in the weekly statistics for NHST&T (link below). The number of days for which people are asked to self-isolate depends on the time taken for the index case to report symptoms and book a test, the turnaround time for testing, and the time taken to identify and reach contacts. By June 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care (the department) will explore the quality of the data on this with a view to regular publication if acceptable. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been commissioned to gather information on compliance with self-isolation, but on a monthly basis, rather than weekly, because levels of compliance are unlikely to be volatile enough to need weekly tracking. ONS has begun publishing compliance data for those who have tested positive, and those who have been in contact with a positive case. 1.4 The time taken to reach contacts after the index case reporting symptoms is in the “data tables” document which can be accessed here (selecting the relevant week). 1.5 The department continues to evaluate the impact of the NHST&T service on infection levels. In February it published the Rὺm Model Technical Annex which estimated the effect of testing, tracing and self-isolation on the R number. The department is developing plans to publish estimates periodically in future, in line with the Committee’s recommendation.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
Forty-Seventh Report - COVID-19: Test, track and trace (part 1)
10 Mar 2021
HC 932
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
5.4 yrs
Report published
10 Mar 2021