Test and Trace

Sir David King - The government Must now take trace and test away from the failing company and give it to the experts in LAs and NHS.

Summerlove I'm sorry if I have been patronising. But anyone who says that the vaccine is being rushed through to get it out is just plain wrong. Opinion doesn't come into it.

I'll not say any more because this is a very important issue to me and you are right, we won't agree.

As we all talk about billions of pounds, I wonder how many of us realise just what an enormous number a billion is?

If someone gave me £1m to spend at the rate of £1000 per day, it would take 3 years to spend it all.

If someone gave me £1bn to spend at the rate of £1000 per day, it would take 2740 years.

Just let the enormity of the numbers sink in and then ask where it has all gone.

Even my Brexiteer MP has been sending out emails telling us that he is very unhappy with the way track and trace is being run, and that he is pushing for a change at the top. Crikey, for once I shall have to send him a congratulatory email!!

I understand how vaccines work, and I have read into how the Covid vaccine is working and about herd immunity. I just happen to disagree with you on this one.

Please don’t be patronising and assume that I don’t know what I am talking about.

As I said, I am the one who would continue having to be careful and not being out in public relying on other peoples vaccines to protect me.

There are a lot of misconceptions around the vaccine research for Covid. That its being rushed through. That if you don't have the vaccine, only you are affected. That anything short of instant lifelong immunity to COVID means that the vaccine doesn't work.

But yes, always your choice.

Alegrias2

Sorry, I really don't want to be rude to anyone, but Summerlove, can you not see how that sounds? It seems like you're happy for the rest of us to take the risks so that you'll be fine. Even if you think that why would you put it on a public forum?

BTW, its based on completely erroneous thinking, but I'm not getting into that again.

Vaccinations are a choice. If you choose to take a vaccine In the first few runs of it without knowing side effects, that’s your choice.

My preference is that they don’t rush it through to get it out. I’d rather wait.

People sign up to early trials often. They make a choice to do so. Others wait. Also a valid choice.

Nothing to do with being happy to let others take risks, I’d rather they wouldn’t! But I can’t stop them.

I am very pro vaccine, but I feel in this case too many are waiting on a magic pill that likely won’t work. The risks seem too great.

In the event I’m wrong, I’ll be the one missing out by still not seeing family and friends and being more careful in public.

I wonder if they will release any of the trials data on these new vaccines?

Sorry, I really don't want to be rude to anyone, but Summerlove, can you not see how that sounds? It seems like you're happy for the rest of us to take the risks so that you'll be fine. Even if you think that why would you put it on a public forum?

BTW, its based on completely erroneous thinking, but I'm not getting into that again.

However "waiting to see if it works for the rest of you" isn't a reason to decline it.

Perhaps not for most, but for me I’ll be waiting to see If any side effects pop up

Alegrias2 no problems

25Avalon I wrote this rashly without knowing your situation, I'm sorry.

Should be Alegrias2. Sorry.

Algeria’s often vaccines don’t work effectively at the start of a vaccine programme. There are several potential ones but some may be better than others. As dh is more vulnerable I would sooner be sure first before venturing out.

25Avalon

Happy to have a jab but not yet. Waiting for it to be doled out then see how effective it is first.

A poster on another thread explained carefully why she didn't want to have the vaccine. I don't agree with her but she had her own reasons.

However "waiting to see if it works for the rest of you" isn't a reason to decline it.

When this pandemic kicked off, there was a woman on Radio 4, representative of Environmental Health Officers. They were all furloughed as restaurants were shut, they offered their services to the government and heard nothing. Over 5000 skilled, experienced professional people. Absolute scandal.

My friend tested positive on Monday. No contact from the test and trace people.

NHS Test and Trace statistics (since launch)
Department of Health and Social Care Website

9.6 million people tested at least once

1,406,983 people reached by NHS Test and Trace

81% of identified close contacts who provided contact details reached

Full report gov.uk/government/pub.....

It is a scandal. One thing for it not to be working because of lack of investment, another thing for billions to be poured into the private sector without any measurement of success or any come back for failure. The money should go to local public health sectors who have demonstrated an much higher success rate.

Just been reading that Level 3 call handlers, many of whom are 18 year old school leavers, have been told they are being moved up to being Level 2 clinical contact caseworkers after only 4 hours training. They have no choice in this, and will still be paid minimum wage. Serco have said that instructions to do this have come from the government and the Dept of Health and Social Care have confirmed this. I hope it's ok to add a link to the full article : amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/28/england-coronavirus-covid-test-and-trace-teenagers?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=16039697639802&_ct=1603969777000&csi=1&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fcommentisfree%2F2020%2Foct%2F28%2Fengland-coronavirus-covid-test-and-trace-teenagers

Corruption on a massive scale

Jo Maugham QC

Leaked Government documents reveal special procurement channels for ‘VIPs’ and Cabinet contacts - and opportunities for 35-45% profit margins for insiders. goodlawproject.org/news/special-procurement-channels/… #goodlawproject

petra

Tens of thousands aren't giving their number as they can't afford to isolate if they're contacted.
That's why it's not working.

It isn’t working because of the way it is being operated.

although the job is advertised at clinician level 6, which is at a health or science degree level. with an hourly rate between £16.97 and £27.15. “Your tasks will be to conduct public health risk assessments, provide public health advise and use your clinical knowledge to escalate complex cases”.In fact most of the staff are between 18 and 20 and being paid the minimum hourly wage of £6.45.

Recently they have all been “upgraded“ to clinician level 6, but no training has been given.

So how has that gone?

As you might guess an absolute s..tshow.

Young tracers have been given calls where the person has just lost someone to covid and was in extreme distress, resulting in the young tracer being “distraught and crying“
They have had absolutely no training in bereavement counselling, but just the advise that If someone
is upset, give them time to talk!!

The government gave the instruction to Serco to upgrade these youngsters, and is using the pandemic to shift the boundaries between public and private provision, to restructure public health and pass lucrative contracts to poorly qualified private companies.

The inevitable result is a galactic cocky.

This is what you get from a government that values money above life.

Monbiot
29/10

The lack of due process in awarding the contracts is appalling and something to be shouted about and robustly challenged. It is not just about giving money to mates it is also about lack of duty to prioritise the safety & health of the citizens of the UK.

Tens of thousands aren't giving their number as they can't afford to isolate if they're contacted.
That's why it's not working.

The most important thing is past experience, in running such a system.

The current contract holder has none.

The LAs and NHS have decades of experience.

The main issue is not with the few rebels who refuse to give correct contact details but with the contracts handed out to mates of this government. To companies with no prior knowledge or expertise. Watch the Salisbury Poisoning and see how local services, working together are more effective.