Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about coronavirus testing, NHS Test and Trace, and outsourcing.
As part of an unprecedented response to this pandemic, my colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care have drawn on the expertise and resources of a number of public and private sector partners to support our NHS and social care sector. The Government has been guided by the science throughout, consulting with a range of experts in each field, and has made significant progress in testing capacity and analysis.
Testing and NHS Test and Trace services are being provided through the NHS, and while it is true that providers like Serco and Sitel are working with the public sector to deliver these services, I am confident that these providers will be held to the highest standards to ensure that the best service possible is delivered.
I know that the Government is very aware of the frustration that some people are experiencing trying to access tests. I have received assurances at the highest level that work is being done urgently to increase testing capacity following a rise in the virus and an increase in the number of people wanting tests.
By 29 October there was capacity for 480,961 tests each day, and the government is increasing the number of testing sites by 20 percent, which should enable people to find a test site closer to their homes, as well as increasing testing capacity.
In Scotland the response to the coronavirus pandemic is largely a devolved responsibility, and this includes the development of the 'Protect Scotland' app. It was developed by the software company NearForm based on peer reviewed open-source software that has been rolled out in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
It is a testament to the ingenuity of British businesses that they have been able to adapt existing resources in a time of great need for the country, and I am extremely grateful to all organisations that have offered their services at this time.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind regards, Alister