The UK is laying off 6,000 workers on its contact tracing scheme after reports detailed how they spent weeks watching Netflix, barbecuing, and doing quizzes

insider@insider.com (Bill Bostock)
·4 min read
NHS contact tracing app 1
The NHS contact-tracing app, which the government has since abandoned.

NHSX

  • The UK government has said it is firing 6,000 people from its Test and Trace coronavirus contact tracing program.

  • Tracers are hired to call people and alert them if they have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

  • But in recent weeks tracers have told the British media that they are bored, making very few calls, and are being paid to sit around.

  • One told the BBC in June: "I've literally been on the system, refreshed the system, and entertained myself during that watching Netflix."

  • The Department of Health said remaining tracers would work with local authorities, who can better tap into local knowledge and "provide a more tailored service."

  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The UK is laying off 6,000 staff on its contact tracing scheme following numerous reports that employees spent weeks watching Netflix and doing quizzes.

The Department of Health and Social Care announced on Monday that the number of tracers will drop from 18,000 to 12,000 on August 24.

The scheme had been working on a national scale, but the remaining 12,000 tracers will now be told to target specific local areas and work with local authorities to "provide a more tailored service," the department said.

Boris Johnson had announced on May 20 that a "world-beating" track-and-trace system would be rolled out on June 1 to identify people who had come into contact with those who had tested positive for COVID-19.

But in recent weeks, a number of reports in the British press have detailed how many of those employed to make calls to Britons have had very little to do.

A clinician working as a tracer told the BBC on June 3 that her boss had given her no one to call, despite working on the scheme for more than a week.

FILE - In this Thursday, May 7, 2020 file photo, a construction worker passes a sign thanking the NHS in London, as the country in is lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The British economy grew by far less than anticipated during May, dampening hopes that the recovery from what is set to be one of the country’s deepest recessions in centuries will be rapid. The Office for National Statistics said Tuesday, July 14, 2020, that the economy grew by 1.8% in May from the previous month after some easing of the lockdown, such as encouraging those in construction or manufacturing to return to work. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
A construction worker passes a sign thanking the NHS in London, on May 7, 2020.

Associated Press

"I've had no contact from anyone. I've had no contact from supervisors. I've literally been on the system, refreshed the system, and entertained myself during that watching Netflix," the person said.

Another contract tracer, hired for the scheme by contractor Sitel, told The Guardian last week they have made only a handful of calls.

"I've heard of tracers claiming to be sat in the garden having a barbecue so that they can stay logged in and clock up the hours," the person said.

"They aren't alone – there's hundreds, if not thousands, of similar stories."

coronavirus uk

Getty

A second contractor, hired by the firm Intelling to work the government contract, told the newspaper: "We could easily make 30 calls a day."

"I've worked hundreds of hours and only made a handful of calls, and all of them have gone to voicemail."

"It's been very frustrating, and I'm grappling with my own morals because I'm wasting so much [public] money," the person said.

"They keep telling us next week it's going to get more busy, and at first you believe that, but over time reality sets in that I may never make a real call, and I'll be paid thousands of pounds by the government. That's deeply frustrating if you want to help."

boris johnson
Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, seen during the coronavirus pandemic in London, UK.

Getty

Screenshots from the tracers' internal messaging service, shared with MailOnline, also showed staff discussing popular TV shows and planning holidays.

"People talk about Netflix, where they want to go on holiday. There are Xbox groups, planned nights out. You name it," the unnamed whistleblower who supplied the pictures said.

"I think the fact conversations have devolved to team leaders talking about how they want to go to Disney is evidence of how busy they are."

"All Boris [Johnson] has done has hired thousands of people so he can say 'we have this' but you have got thousands of people doing nothing," they said.

During the training process, contractors complained of disjointed classes in which no one knew what they were being hired for.

Some said that even when they have been employed they couldn't log into the system to start their work.

When asked to supply comment on the claims made by tracers, the Department of Heath and Social Care sent Business Insider a copy of Monday's announcement.

The UK had planned to roll out a track-and-trace app nationwide, but scrapped the idea in June.

Read the original article on Business Insider