Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 18
18
NHST&T told us the biggest lesson it had learnt from the last year was that...
Conclusion
NHST&T told us the biggest lesson it had learnt from the last year was that “you can only deliver this sort of service as an integrated team of all the different organisations, institutions and individuals in the country”. It said it had learned a lot about “how to build this coalition between local government and national Government, the NHS, the broader public sector and the private sector—and, ultimately, with the general public as a whole”.65 However, a range of stakeholders have queried why local authorities and NHS primary care bodies were not more directly involved in the government’s approach to test and trace from the outset, given their existing networks, experience and expertise.66 For example, the Local Government Association felt that a lack of consultation with local areas had led to test centres being set up in places that many people had difficulty getting to. Since July, local authorities have assumed a bigger tracing role, setting up their own locally run contact tracing schemes to cover the minority of cases that the national service cannot reach, working in conjunction with NHST&T.67
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.