Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 198
198
Accepted
Two months earlier, in July 2020, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, told...
Recommendation
Two months earlier, in July 2020, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, told the Science and Technology Committee that extra testing capacity would be “essential” ahead of schools reopening.306 However, he suggested that the Government did 298 GOV.UK, UK reaches 200,000 coronavirus testing capacity target a day early: 31 May 2020, accessed 17 September 2021 299 National Audit Office, The government’s approach to test and trace in England—interim report, 11 December 2020, page 10 300 Oral evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee on 17 September 2020, HC (2019–21) 136, Qq1327–1329 301 Oral evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee on 17 September 2020, HC (2019–21) 136, Qq1314–1326 302 Oral evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee on 17 September 2020, HC (2019–21) 136, Q1306 303 HC Deb, 20 July 2020, col 1855 [Commons Chamber] 304 Q346 305 National Audit Office, The government’s approach to test and trace in England—interim report, 11 December 2020, page 50 306 Oral evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee on 16 July 2020, HC (2019–21) 136, Qq1149– 1154 70 Coronavirus: lessons learned to date not have the capacity to meet the potential demand of over 350,000 tests per day, a figure suggested by the Academy of Medical Sciences at the time.307 Nevertheless, Baroness Harding suggested that the level of demand encountered in September was “in none of the modelling” used by NHS Test and Trace to assess capacity.308 She told the Science and Technology Committee that capacity plans had been “based on SAGE modelling for what we should be preparing for in the autumn”, and that it was SAGE’s assessment rather than NHS Test and Trace’s.309 However, she later wrote to the Committee in a follow-up letter to clarify that SAGE had not informed the capacity targets: SAGE has not been responsible for providing modelling analysis on operational testing capacity […] In order to model and for
Government response summary AI-generated
The government accepts the recommendation to ensure robust plans for rapidly scaling up test, trace, and isolate programmes in future health emergencies. It states UKHSA already has significant PCR and LFD testing capacity and commits to continuing to develop capabilities and ensure resilient infrastructure.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
The government accepts this recommendation. The government agrees with the Committees that it is vital to ensure that, in future health emergencies, the UK has robust plans and the capabilities to rapidly scale up test, trace and isolate programmes. The government has already taken steps to ensure that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has the capability and capacity to maintain central surge capacity for testing and contact tracing during a public health emergency. UKHSA has the capacity to conduct 700,000 PCR tests per day and scale this up to 800,000 PCR tests per day in 72 hours. UKHSA also has the capacity to deliver 2.5 million Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests per day. The government will continue to develop its capacity to enable early and effective detection of disease through testing and surveillance, and to intervene to stop the spread of infection through contact tracing and isolation. Looking ahead, the government will ensure that a resilient and scalable infrastructure is in place to protect the public from new and existing threats to health, building on the legacy of the response to this pandemic as set out in the ‘Living with COVID-19’ strategy.
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