LONDON | In the midst of the resurgence of the new coronavirus, the British government found itself under fire from criticism on Tuesday for screening failures, which raised concerns among health officials of repercussions on the continuity of care services.
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Almost non-existent at the start, screening resources in the United Kingdom have increased considerably since the spring with a claimed capacity of more than 300,000 tests per day.
But testimonies are multiplying in the media of people unable to book a test or having to travel very long distances to be tested.
Criticizing the executive for lacking “transparency” on the extent of the problem, Chris Hopson, an official in hospital services in the public health system (NHS), called for priority to be given to caregivers and the sick as the absenteeism of health workers is increasing, especially in London, forced to self-isolate due to insufficient tests.
“We now have cases of patients who should be treated and who we cannot treat because (the nursing staff) do not have access to a test,” he said.
According to The Times, with the reopening of schools and the need for screening in nursing homes, demand far exceeds the 200,000 tests carried out daily, and no tests are available in the ten most important areas of the country. affected by the virus.
The Sunday Times said on Sunday that tests had to be sent to Italy and Germany, due to a backlog of 185,000 tests awaiting results.
“We need an adequate tracking system right now, with capacity, flexibility and accessibility that does not require journeys of 100 miles (over 160 km, Editor’s note) which disadvantage some of the most vulnerable”, added Dr Chaand Nagpaul, President of the British Medical Association (BMA).
Asked about the BBC, the Minister of the Interior, Priti Patel, assured that the government, which asks to be tested only in case of symptoms, continued to “increase” screening capacities.
Boris Johnson promised last week to roll out a “massive screening program”, with a target of 500,000 daily tests by the end of October.
After a lull, the United Kingdom has recorded a new surge of contamination, with around 3,000 positive cases for several days. The country, where the death toll exceeds 41,600, is the most bereaved in Europe.