Concerns over Test & Trace as Hull records worse coronavirus rates in England
Hull's MPs are urging the Government to up testing in the city and bring in the military to help distribute rapid testing kits.
Last updated 12th Nov 2020
It's emerged Test & Trace is failing to reach around 60% of people who may have come into contact with a coronavirus case, as Hull's MPs call for testing to be stepped up in the city.
Kingston-upon-Hull now has the worst coronavirus rates in the whole country, with almost 2,000 people testing positive in one week alone at the start of November.
Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy has asked why the armed forces aren't being brought in to help administer rapid tests that can turn results around in just 20 minutes.
In Parliament last night, Ms. Hardy said the 10,000 kits that have been offered won't be enough.
"We've got to get this system working"
Speaking to us, Hull North MP Diana Johnson has revealed that problems with getting tests may have contributed to the rising rates.
Earlier this year, people reported that they were being told to travel hundreds of miles to get a test because there was none available in their area.
Ms. Johnson says the Test & Trace system is letting people down. "It hasn't been getting anywhere near the 80-90% that you want it to, in terms of getting in touch with people who've been in contact with someone who's got Covid-19."
She believes the system should have been run by local authorities, instead of being tendered out to private businesses.
"Ultimately, local authorities are at the sharp end of this and we would have been better using money to fund councils and using private enterprise where we needed to".
Some surgeries and hospital appointments cancelled
Hull University Hospitals Trust has cancelled some routine day surgery, elective procedures and outpatient appointments following the rise in Covid-19 cases.
Chief Operating Officer Teresa Cope said: “We’ve seen a sudden and dramatic increase in patients with Covid-19 who need to be admitted to our hospitals over the past fortnight and it’s continuing to climb, reflecting the high numbers of people in the city currently being diagnosed with the virus.
“It has become increasingly clear that if we are to have the capacity and staff to care for these patients, we have to reschedule our other work.
“We know this will impact on patients and we are really sorry that we are having to do this. We are deeply sorry to every person affected by this decision. We assure them that we will seek to restart all of our services as soon as possible.
“Thank you for bearing with us through these difficult times, the toughest any of us have ever experienced in the NHS.”
"The pressure on all of our public services in severe"
Hull City Council chief executive Matt Jukes has warned local NHS services could be hit hard by rising coronavirus rates.
In a tweet, he's urged everyone in the city to follow the new lockdown rules.
Figures show 161 people are in Hull Royal with coronavirus and 16 of those are in intensive care.
The Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate said its on standby to offer extra beds.