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Test & Trace Failure Fuels COVID Chaos

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Test & Trace Failure Fuels COVID Chaos MONTHLY ONLINE NEWS BULLETIN September 2020 Welcome to the first issue of what will run as a monthly online bulletin for Health Campaigns Together affiliates and supporters. It is an effort to fill the gap left by the suspension of HCT’s quarterly printed newspaper, which cannot be effectively distributed at a time when no physical meetings or large-scale events can be held. But a basis for united action is sharing relevant information as widely as possible, seeking to develop a common understanding of the impact of key policy decisions, and combating the spread of fake news. Hapless Hancock has proved his expertise in blame shifting while chaos continues in privatised system This issue has highlighted the latest NHS England policies (p2-3) privatisation (p6-7) and the fight against racism in the NHS (back page). Future issues will focus more on mental health and social care. Given the pace of events, Test & trace failure and the abrupt twists and turns of government policy, and a continuing series of revelations on its handling of the Covid-19 crisis, a monthly news bulletin that can be widely shared fuels COVID chaos online, covering a wide range of Total chaos now prevails in the tests to laboratories in Italy and available capacity. She claimed that issues, and allowing union and privatised test and trace system Germany. the increased demand for tests had campaign activists to download as numbers testing positive to Most of the private laboratories been unforeseen – despite months and information they find useful Covid begin again to rise fast, and are clearing fewer tests than their of warnings by public health seems the best format. hospitalisation for Covid patients is stated capacity, lacking staff and/ experts that reopening schools, We urge local activists also increasing. or supplies. As a result, while the universities and businesses would facing new problems to Between 3 and 9 September, government boasts of “capacity increase demand. forward information to us for 18,371 people were diagnosed for 375,000 tests a day,” the actual Harding also admitted that just investigation and coverage in with covid-19, an increase of 167 number of people being tested was 14% of all tests delivered a result future issues. Contact details per cent compared to the end of down to just 437,000 people a week in under 24 hours in the week to 9 are at the foot of each page. August, and the 7-day daily average in early September – “equivalent to September, down from 32% a week n Future issues of the bulletin will was 3466 on September 18, raising just 62,000 a day.” earlier. As this issue is prepared be emailed directly to HCT affiliates fears of a second lockdown. According to Dido Harding, the the latest figure is just EIGHT and subscribers, and subsequently Documents leaked to the Sunday dim Tory peer with no relevant percent (1 in 12). posted on our website. Times show that the government’s experience who was installed as If your organisation has not “world-beating” testing programme chair of the privatised “NHS Test and Continued inside, page 4 yet affiliated you can do so HERE has a backlog of 185,000 swabs, and Trace”, demand for coronavirus tests is so overstretched that it is sending is running at three to four times Private test and trace is failing Health Campaigns Together - hand it back to the NHS AGM Saturday October 3 ‘NHS test and trace’ is not run by the 10.30-13.00 - via Zoom NHS. The testing side is run by private companies such as Deloitte, and it’s Guest speaker: Dr Dominic Pimenta on his new book clear that it is failing. Duty of Care about NHS staff working during Covid. Please sign the petition backed by We Own It, Keep Our NHS Public Plus trade union speakers tbc. and Health Campaigns Together, The AGM is the chance for affiliated organisations to elect officers, calling for testing to be rooted within NHS structures and given the hear reports, and decide policy and priorities for the year ahead. necessary investment. Details will be sent to affiliates along with more detailed agenda. l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns 2 6-week cut-off for support to discharged patients response, this policy, which The DHSC’s August 21 guidance emptied tens of thousands of to hospital trusts goes further NHS beds, has been linked with than previous such guidance additional government funding to in spelling out the need for cover up to six weeks of recovery additional government funding and support services. of “post discharge recovery and The funding could also be support services” to cease after used “for urgent community the maximum six week period response provided within 2 hours after patients have been hurried to prevent an acute admission” – out of hospital. although how many areas have The whole focus is on been able to offer such a rapid speeding the process and response, and how many did so minimising the numbers of has not been revealed. Using Covid crisis to patients deemed eligible to The document states (with no remain in a hospital bed by strict supporting evidence) that 50% of implementation, in twice-daily people can simply be discharged ward rounds, of a draconian criteria to home from hospital, with relatives push through changes 9-point checklist of “ or neighbours taking the strain commissioning through a single reside in hospital:” … and no further support from As always, NHS England has been ICS/STP approach. This will typically Within 2 hours NHS or social care; 45% will need unwilling to let a good crisis go lead to a single CCG across the some support from health and/or If the patient does not fit at to waste. system.” social care to recover at home; 4% least one of the 9 categories, NHS England’s July 31 “A plan for developing and will need rehabilitation of short and regardless of their social letter demands more rapid implementing a full shared care term care in a 24-hour bed based circumstances, the policy states implementation of the drive record, allowing the safe flow of setting; and just 1% will need they must be discharged “as soon towards the imposition of patient data between care settings, ongoing 24-hour nursing care. as they are clinically safe to do so” “integrated care systems”, mergers and the aggregation of data for However there are to a “designated discharge area” of CCGs, and new measures to population health.” complications over Covid – within an hour, or at most on eliminate even the pretence of “Finally, we are asking you screening: “DHSC/PHE policy is the same day, and where possible public consultation. – working as local systems – to that people being discharged from discharged from the discharge All “ICSs and STPs” are required return a draft summary plan by hospital to care homes are tested area as soon as possible, “often to draw up a “development 1 September using the templates for COVID-19 in a timely manner plan” which must include steps within two hours”. (p4) ahead of being discharged …. issued and covering the key actions Hospitals are required to speed through controversial set out in this letter, with final plans Where a test result is still awaited, to give reasons for any decisions with minimal if any public due by 21 September.” the person will be discharged if the delays to this whistle-stop involvement: NHSE also warns that in areas care home states that it is able to discharge process. “The default “Collaborative leadership where CCGs have not yet merged safely isolate the patient …. assumption will be discharge arrangements, agreed by all into larger bodies with even less “If this is not possible then partners, that support joint working home today.” (p25) alternative accommodation and local accountability, applications to However senior geriatricians and quick, effective decision- merge CCGs next April also need to care … needs to be provided by have warned that the guidance making.” (p9). be submitted by 30 September. the local authority, funded by the could prompt an increase in In addition the July 31 letter Once again only the most token discharge funding.” (p16). “urgent readmissions”, “permanent requires three further plans to be consultation will be possible in It’s not at all clear what disability” and “excess mortality”, drawn up at a rapid pace, with tight the timescale on proposals that “alternative accommodation” while charities said families could timescales across the peak holiday in some areas have already been might be available, affordable, be left with “unsustainable caring period, making it impossible for specifically rejected by local GPs or or appropriate for patients who responsibilities” because of the there to be any local consultation as a result of local opposition. might potentially arrive with or genuine involvement in new rules. Covid-19, and are also likely to n Extracted from fuller coverage Since the peak of the Covid-19 producing them: in The Lowdown require complex care. “Plans to streamline The policy is clear on one thing: The from six weeks after discharge from THE lHeaolth newsw and analysids to inforom and emwpower NHSn staff and campaigners hospital the local NHS and social how opaque and secretive these deals can be. services are left to carry the can. Rutherford’s chief medical officer is one of the Frameworks media’s favourite private doctors, Karol Sikora, for secrecy who famously claimed on the BBC in 2017 that the Around the country staff in NHS was the “last bastion of communism” and needed a “total rethink”.
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