Test and Trace's multimillion merchandise

Before the vaccine roll out, it’s easy to forget now how much faith was placed in NHS Test and Trace. Announcing the new system in spring last year, the then Health Secretary Matt Hancock lauded contact tracing, claiming it would enable an NHS clinician and the person with the virus to work together ‘like detectives’ to identify the possible movements of the virus.

Fifteen months on, such optimism has long gone as costs have spiralled. In June this year, the National Audit Office reported there were still significant weaknesses in the system, particularly around slow turnaround times for test results. It came two months after the Commons Public Accounts Committee concluded there was ‘no clear evidence’ the venture contributed to a reduction in infection levels. Such criticism is blamed for putting the kibosh on chief Dido Harding’s dreams of leading the NHS.