On 24 March, Matt Hancock told the briefing that “our new testing facility in Milton Keynes opens today and we are therefore on the ramp up of the testing numbers”
Over two weeks later, it's still only conducting 1500 tests a day
NEW by me for @SkyNews news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
Over two weeks later, it's still only conducting 1500 tests a day
NEW by me for @SkyNews news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
The testing centres were planning as a "factory" to test of thousands of swabs
To build them, the government requisitioned testing machines from labs across the country
But big factories are slow to get going - and tests are still being done manually
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
To build them, the government requisitioned testing machines from labs across the country
But big factories are slow to get going - and tests are still being done manually
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
Sorry, had to do some parenting. To resume...
I understand there are two reasons why testing is still being done manually
1. The centre is still building a digital platform to manage the testing process end-to-end
2. A shortage of parts
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
I understand there are two reasons why testing is still being done manually
1. The centre is still building a digital platform to manage the testing process end-to-end
2. A shortage of parts
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
The government asked labs to hand over their Thermo Fisher 7500 ABI Fast machines - but these machines need very parts which can only come from the manufacturer
That's why this announcement from Thursday, which didn't get much attention, was so crucial
ft.com/content/a08688…
That's why this announcement from Thursday, which didn't get much attention, was so crucial
ft.com/content/a08688…
So things do seem to be coming good – and people involved with this project stress what an incredible achievement it has been to get it up and running *from scratch* in such a short period of time
But experts I spoke to raised two criticisms:
But experts I spoke to raised two criticisms:
1. If this is such a monumental task, why is it being done so late?
This leaked email shows that the government didn't ask for machines until March 18, the day the death toll passed 100 in the UK
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
This leaked email shows that the government didn't ask for machines until March 18, the day the death toll passed 100 in the UK
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
2. When it was clear that the big lab would take a long time, why didn't the government look for help from smaller labs?
This second leaked email shows how the "command and control" mindset got in the way
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
This second leaked email shows how the "command and control" mindset got in the way
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
Another break, this time to talk about it LIVE FROM SOUTH LONDON
To sum up: the government put all its eggs in one basket. Was that wise? Perhaps not
Anyway, please read the whole piece. The national centres are the whole ball game when it comes to UK testing, so understanding what happens there is crucial
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
Anyway, please read the whole piece. The national centres are the whole ball game when it comes to UK testing, so understanding what happens there is crucial
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
