Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 5
5
NHST&T claims to be a learning organisation, but since last May many important stakeholders have...
Recommendation
NHST&T claims to be a learning organisation, but since last May many important stakeholders have at times felt ignored by it. NHST&T emphasises to us that it is “constantly learning what works and what does not” and that it is critical to develop “an integrated team of all the different organisations, institutions and individuals in the country”. However, a range of stakeholders have queried why local authorities and NHS primary care bodies were not more directly involved in testing and tracing activities at the outset, given their existing networks, experience and expertise. Local authorities have subsequently become much more involved, for example undertaking contact tracing for people who are hard to reach. We are also concerned by a lack of engagement with school heads and education stakeholders in the roll-out of rapid testing, and the lack of general public health expertise at senior levels of NHST&T. NHST&T will need to focus more on engagement and collaboration with other sectors if the rapid testing expands to cover an increasing range of settings. Recommendation: NHST&T should review how it engages with and draws expertise from the wider public health establishment and other sectors that are especially dependent on its work. This should include, but is not limited to, local government, the schools sector and the hospitality industry.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 5.2 The department agree with the committee that NHST&T cannot support citizens and businesses unaided. It is only by working across local and national partners in government, and in critical sectors, that we will break the chains of transmission. 5.3 Since the NAO’s report in December 2020 on the Government’s approach to test and trace in England was produced, NHST&T has significantly extended engagement with partners, especially local authorities. Local communities are at the heart of breaking the chains of transmission. It is vital to have a continued strong local, regional and national partnership to support people to understand and comply with the guidance and regulations designed to protect their health. The department has worked with local and regional partners to update the Contain Framework which sets out the roles and responsibilities of each partner, the requirements of local authorities and the support they can expect from regional and national teams. Regional teams are now meeting with local authorities daily on risks/issues, support needs and good practice. The Community Testing Programme supports local authorities in making testing accessible to people in local communities, particularly in disproportionately affected groups. 5.4 NHST&T is engaging with all sectors that need testing to reopen, but this relationship is mediated through the relevant government departments which have more knowledge and expertise in the needs of these sectors. For example, the Department for Education leads on schools and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are leading on hospitality, supported by NHST&T. It ensures that all interested departments are engaged in any testing initiatives.