Hospital bosses 'increasingly frustrated' with testing failures

A new report says the public focus on delivering 100,000 tests on 30 April for coronavirus is a ‘red herring’ and is distracting from the need for a clear, updated, testing strategy.

Testing questions in testing times, published by NHS Providers, argues that NHS trust leaders believe they have done all they can to support the national testing effort so far but are increasingly frustrated with the lack of clarity on how the testing regime will be developed for this next phase.

Hospital bosses currently feel they are on the end of a series of frequent tactical announcements extending the testing criteria to new groups with no visibility on any longer term strategy, and are being expected to accommodate these changes ‘at the drop of a hat’, often with no advance notice or planning.

The report stresses that the push for 100,000 tests a day may also be driving ‘testing for testing's sake’ in order to maximise the numbers, rather than ensuring that those who need a test can actually get one, which is the most important priority.

The report is clear that trust leaders and the NHS are dependent on government plans as ministers have overall responsibility for testing strategy, co-ordination, determining who should be tested, and plans for expanding testing capacity.

It sets out the key ingredients for an effective testing regime: a clear overall strategy; the right testing criteria – who should be tested for what purpose, when and how often; the right capacity, access and reliability – so those who need a test can get easy access to one that’s processed quickly and accurately whenever required; and excellent co-ordination – ensuring a complex system, with a vast number of different organisations and people involved, runs smoothly end-to-end.

Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, said: "The NHS has achieved so much in confronting the challenges posed by coronavirus. However testing is one area where, despite all the work delivered by trusts and the NHS, the health and care system as a whole has struggled to develop an effective, coordinated approach.

"Our report sets out some important questions on what’s happened so far that any subsequent public inquiry may want to explore. But as we consider the route out of lockdown, what trust leaders need now is clarity on the testing regime from here on. Setting a target for a number of tests for 30 April may have had a galvanising effect. But what matters most is an updated strategy to take us through the exit from lockdown. Trusts stand ready to play their part in delivering that new testing regime, but they need to know a lot more, as quickly as possible, to play that part effectively.”