Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.
Calls grow for enquiry into test and trace system managed by outsourcers like Deloitte
iStock_Covid test centre_richard johnson

Test and trace failures turn spotlight on Deloitte

by

An outsourcing scandal is brewing around the government’s £12bn coronavirus test and trace program, as experts call for a public inquiry into the costs of using private operators to provide the NHS service.

15th Oct 2020
Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

Register for free to continue reading

It’s 100% free and provides unlimited access to the latest accounting news, advice and insight every day. As well as access to this exclusive article, you can:


Content lock down, tick icon

View all AccountingWEB content


Content lock down, tick icon

Comment on articles


Content lock down, tick icon

Watch our digital shows and more

Access content now

Already have an account?

Replies (15)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

blue sheep
By NH
15th Oct 2020 18:04

Glitches in Excel? If only they had Made Covid Digital this never would happened

Thanks (5)
avatar
By carnmores
15th Oct 2020 19:07

test and trace will not work young people who are carriers and symptomatic do not want the government knowing where they are or what they are doing. what needs reinforcing is the use of masks and looking after vulnerable relatives

Thanks (0)
avatar
By RaxJ
15th Oct 2020 20:57

This has been a disaster. I suggest Deloitte staff take a course in excel... Other than that, people need to limit their outings, keep a safe distance, wear a mask and respect the rules.

Thanks (1)
avatar
By SXGuy
16th Oct 2020 06:40

I just don't believe any figures government come out with anymore. Nor do I believe any narrative the media push, its been a total black out on scrutiny.

Beginning of the week they report 16k tests missing from database and adding them back would cause a sharp rise is numbers, 3 days later media report worse day for number of positive tests.

Offcom published new guidance in March that said no media can critise anything public health England put out.

The home testing kits apparently have a false positive rate of around 8/10.
But have heard rumours the media when stating how many test positive are including the false ones also.

Places like gt Manchester being used as a Guinea pig for the new 3 tier system while many will lose their jobs and receive no help.

25 used tests kits accidently being sent out to people.

I could go on and on but the main point is, we're not being told the whole truth and lockdown measures are being put in place over figures you wouldnt even sign off on if it was audited.

Thanks (1)
avatar
By paulwakefield1
16th Oct 2020 07:58

A bit unfair to blame Excel "Technical glitch in Excel". It was not Excel's fault that an old version/format was used which was bound to cause data to fall outside the widely known parameter limitations. There were at least 4 fundamental flaws identifiable from the reports:

Failing to have an automated check that what was imported matched the source
Using .xls files reducing row capacity from 1m+ to 64k
Having multiple rows per record further reducing available data capacity
Using Excel in the first place for the database (although this is much less of a failing than it would have been in the past). It should just have been used for analysis.

I also assume a failing to use for instance Power BI which would have been more powerful and highly unlikely to hit data limits.

If only they had read the ICAEW's own 20 Spreadsheet Principles!

Thanks (2)
avatar
By Justin Bryant
16th Oct 2020 13:25

Nice work if you can get it. A lot of the usual noses in yet another government trough. Always nice to know that our Government is spending our hard-earned tax money so wisely. See:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/10/uk-corrupt-nation-...

It's all hardly surprising, as the City and Government are full of psychopaths who will always try to capitalise on a national crisis.

Thanks (2)
By SteveHa
16th Oct 2020 09:17

Hand over health issues to a stream of business companies and expect them to perform, even if they do disguise themselves as the NHS (I'm looking at you, Serco).

Here's a radical thought, properly fund the NHS (likely at a fraction of the consultancy costs) and let the experts do it.

Thanks (4)
avatar
By lesley.barnes
16th Oct 2020 09:39

I live in Bolton which had a harsh lockdown for just over 3 weeks because cases rocketed. It was a case of restrictions are easing, then they weren't, then they were eased, then we were put into tier 2 and now possibly tier 3. It is impossible for me to help businesses to plan day to day. No one ever said why the cases rocketed from very few to the worst place in the UK. I presume that the track and trace wasn't up to analysing why or they didn't want to make it pubic.

The reason given by the council was that a super spreader had come back from Ibiza and not isolated, gone out with friends round the pubs and spread it that way. Whilst we were locked down, publicans were pouring beer down the drains and all that happened was that people travelled to other areas to go out and spread it around that way.

Figures here are still not coming down no matter what we do. On a personal level I haven't seen my mum who is in a care home since March - they locked down early, the home has never "unlocked" I have only seen my grandchildren three times since March and then only outdoors.

I can't download the app to my iPhone - its too old and I'm don't need to upgrade. My husband has the app and for the most part when we do go out for the weekly shop we are usually together. Unless track and trace works, people cooperate and proper analysis is done on the reasons for spread I don't think the local lockdowns will work. Local lockdowns really are like whack a mole. It didn't work here - the figures speak for themselves.

Thanks (2)
avatar
By Craig Tysall
16th Oct 2020 11:31

"capacity, skills and expertise..." Don't make me laugh! There is no evidence of any of this. More like Greed, Stupidity and Stubbornness.

Thanks (2)
avatar
By dmmarler
16th Oct 2020 11:31

Don't blame Excel - blame the NHS. We knew all its IT systems were behind the rest of us when the last set of Microsoft upgrades went through. OK, the NHS gets insufficient funds but it is up to the NHS managers to prioritise how the funds are spent and - if they are not getting adequate funding from the taxpayer - do something about it. Adequate computer systems are essential to running any major business nowadays, and that is what the NHS is.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By KH
16th Oct 2020 15:55

Actually, the people to blame for the mess we are in are all those that voted for this overweight bloated blonde idiot to run the country ... crises come and go, it's LIFE for heaven's sake ... but the type of bloke you wouldn't mind having a pint down the pub with is NOT the sort of guy you want to run a country ... the government is out of touch, has no idea what it is doing, knows only how to lie through its teeth, and continue to lie despite it being obvious it is lying, and we are fast heading down the Big American Yellow Jobbie Road ... what a mess. At least BIG YELLOW TRUMP looks like he is enjoying it, whereas our BIG BLONDE LEADER looks like he is having one helluva bad nightmare (yes, it's called LIFE, but he hasn't had one till now........ and he doesn't know how to deal with it after having had such a privileged upbringing).

But the sun is shining, covid19 will eventually have its way, the planet might have a much better chance of recovering when there are far less of us humans around, and the cosmos will continue ... next instalment to follow (probably) in the next creation .... or the one after that!

Thanks (1)
Replying to KH:
avatar
By carnmores
16th Oct 2020 16:08

utter rubbish , go on blame the politicians. we the people are to blame. people should not be out on the lash partying in the streets after getting [***] up. test and trace wont work becasue the young dont want big brother peering into their personal lives how is that the poiliticians fault

Thanks (0)
Replying to carnmores:
avatar
By KH
19th Oct 2020 17:24

Hi

I'm actually saying it's us to blame, not the polluticians (much better spelling than politicians!) ... but you are correct in that my post doesn't give any credit whatsoever to those who have been voted in by us to be our leaders ... as the saying goes, you get what you deserve, or, in this instance, you get nothing more than the utter rubbish you vote for!

With best regards and respect to your opinions, even if we differ wonderfully...

Thanks (0)
Replying to KH:
avatar
By SXGuy
19th Oct 2020 17:46

To be fair none of us knew this was coming at the last election and most people voted in who would deliver brexit like it or not

And if you seriously believe Corbyn would have done a better job at tackling this I don't know what to say to you.

Thanks (0)
Replying to KH:
avatar
By carnmores
19th Oct 2020 17:48

Nice try but it doesn't wash. There is no template for eradicating this virus. If there was all countries would be using it. Do carry on venting.

Thanks (0)