{"id":847,"date":"2020-09-30T14:21:40","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T14:21:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/policy-engagement\/?p=847"},"modified":"2020-09-30T14:21:44","modified_gmt":"2020-09-30T14:21:44","slug":"new-study-reveals-flaws-in-uk-coronavirus-testing-system-after-comparison-with-other-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/policy-engagement\/new-study-reveals-flaws-in-uk-coronavirus-testing-system-after-comparison-with-other-countries\/","title":{"rendered":"New study reveals flaws in UK Coronavirus testing system after comparison with other countries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new research study helps to explain the inadequate performance of NHS Test and Trace described by Dido Harding at a House of Commons Science & Technology committee evidence session in September, through direct comparison with how similar services are organised in other countries.

Comparing the UK\u2019s Covid testing response to five other nations suggests that a key flaw in the NHS Test and Trace service is the failure to provide medical oversight over access to testing, and not frivolous overuse by members of the public.

The UK is the only country of those studied to both provide tests without first going through healthcare experts and to heavily rely on self-sample collection rather than have experts take swabs for patients, explains a study led by Prof Michael Hopkins in the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex Business School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Study authors at SPRU, Prof Michael Hopkins and Dr Joshua Moon, further add that the UK has neglected citizens in isolation and quarantine by failing to follow WHO guidelines that suggest maintaining of contact, ensuring compliance, and overseeing physical and mental wellbeing.  
 
Early results from their comparative analysis of the five elements of Find, Test, Trace, Isolate, Support (FTTIS) systems of six countries; Germany, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, and the UK also reveal that no single study country has a fully optimised FTTIS system, with lessons to be learned for all from international comparisons. In particular, the need for openness and evaluation is emphasised as an integral part of the FTTIS system, to support continual assessment, learning, evolution and international sharing of good practice.  
   
With particular reference to the UK, the study has the following key findings:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n