Fix the failing COVID-19 testing system

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister; and Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

The Government's current COVID-19 testing system is failing us in Brighton & Hove.

Despite their promises, neither the Prime Minister nor the Secretary of State for Health have introduced a working test, trace, isolate and support system. Cases are growing exponentially after the Government relaxed restrictions too early, ineptly and with confusing and contradictory messages.

People with symptoms - or their parents and carers - are trying over and over again to book tests, only to be told that no testing slots are available, and no home kits are either.

Locally, we are trying to do the right thing, to keep ourselves, our families and our local community safe. But we are being let down by the Government. We are scared and we are angry. Our MPs and our council leaders are frustrated too; despite early and repeated calls for a working test-and-trace system, under the control of local public health experts, the Government has instead outsourced the system to profit-hungry corporations and consultants.

To: Boris Johnson, Prime Minister; and Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
From: [Your Name]

We call on Boris Johnson, Prime Minister; and Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health, to:

- Sort out insufficient laboratory capacity and get the system working, so everyone in Brighton & Hove with symptoms can get a test at a local location they can access by car or on foot, or at home;

- Ensure that all test results are returned within 24 hours;

- Take Serco, Deloitte and other failing private companies off the job and put properly funded local Health Protection Teams in charge of testing.