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The former head of NHS Test and Trace, Baroness Dido Harding, revealed during the Covid inquiry that she believed more financial support for self-isolation could have prevented further infections and deaths in the UK. Harding expressed her frustrations at the response she received from then chancellor Rishi Sunak when she pushed for increased financial aid. She mentioned feeling saddened by the intransigence she faced in trying to secure more support payments.
In September 2020, the government did introduce a £500 self-isolation payment for low-income workers on state benefits who were required to stay at home due to contact with an infected person. Despite this, Harding felt that more could have been done to assist disadvantaged individuals in self-isolation. She argued that redirecting funds from the NHS Test and Trace budget towards isolation support could have potentially saved lives and lowered infection rates.
Harding emphasized that she was not the decision-maker and pointed out that the final say rested with the chancellor. She lamented that her efforts to convince ministers to prioritize increased financial support went unheeded. The inquiry also revealed private diary entries from the government’s former chief scientific adviser, Lord Patrick Vallance, highlighting differing views on the approach to self-isolation measures.
Addressing the challenges faced during the pandemic, Harding shared her frustrations with the lack of support for increased financial aid. She mentioned the difficulties in persuading decision-makers to prioritize financial assistance for self-isolation. Despite her efforts, she believed that the chancellor’s reluctance stemmed from a reluctance to introduce new welfare benefits. Rishi Sunak has not yet testified in the ongoing section of the inquiry focusing on testing, contact tracing, and isolation policies
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