iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Thanks. Am hopefully going to see the play this week!

Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Resident doctors’ strike planned for Monday in england has been called off at the last minute after government makes new offer

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Oh missed this message! Thanks Charlotte.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

That’s true but it was assumed by the WHO, the NHS, the government and so on. Incorrectly it turned out. CATA was right.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Reeves announces in budget that she will exempt compensation payments for the Infected Blood Scheme from inheritance tax "regardless of the circumstances in which those payments are passed down". www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...

bbc.co.uk

Budget 2025: Follow Rachel Reeves speech live

The Office for Budget Responsibility apologises for the error after publishing Budget measures including a charge on homes over £2m and changes to Isas.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

Baroness Hallett published her 800 page report into the big political decisions made in Covid this week. So we put together a 25 min wrap up with some reaction from the Today programme. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

The Covid Inquiry Podcast - 59. 'Too Little, Too Late' - BBC Sounds

Baroness Hallett makes her second report into the UK's pandemic response. With Jim Reed.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

If you read one thing today, read this on failures in acute mental health care and how small things - like understanding need to keep plastic bin liners out of reach - can be so important. By James Melley and Alison Holt who’ve been at trial every day. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Alice Figueiredo: We quit our jobs, sold our home twice and spent 10 years fighting the NHS

A NHS trust and hospital manager have been found guilty of health and safety failings over the death of Alice Figueiredo.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

This latest part of #covidinquiry is over after hearing from 41 witnesses on test and trace. Interesting last week with evidence from head of programme in England, Dido Harding. Here’s 30 min version of our report which ran on Today Programme this morning. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...

bbc.co.uk

BBC Sounds - The Covid Inquiry Podcast - Available Episodes

Listen to the latest episodes of The Covid Inquiry Podcast on BBC Sounds.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Dido Harding was, as expected, pretty strong today at #covidinquiry on the need for more support for people to self isolate in the pandemic. Said she was frustrated by Rishi Sunak who rejected that argument at “every opportunity” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Cash to self-isolate would have saved lives, Covid inquiry told

Baroness Dido Harding tells Covid inquiry Rishi Sunak blocked higher support payments.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

I’d say this last week was one of more interesting of #covidinquiry so far. Thoughtful testimony from Hancock, Drakeford & Vallance about what went right/wrong with test and trace and what should change. Here’s extended version of Today Programme report. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...?

bbc.co.uk

The Covid Inquiry Podcast - 48. 'We suggested more carrot, but they always want to go for stick' - BBC Sounds

The Inquiry hears more about testing & whether the UK is prepared for another pandemic

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

I just didn't have the time to post about Matt Hancock, Lord Bethell and Lord Vallance yesterday at #covidinquiry as was doing other BBC stuff. But here's what wrote for the website. Will pack a lot more in podcast for the weekend. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Boris Johnson wanted authoritarian Covid rules, inquiry hears

In his diaries, Lord Vallance wrote that ex-PM thought rules were not ruthless enough.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

He said that "probably one of the most important lessons from the pandemic" was that Northern Ireland (along with other nations and countries) had insufficient tests and could not scale up testing quickly enough. Something that, he says, needs to change in the future.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

That point was also made by Northern Ireland's chief medical officer Brian McBride who said tests needed to be prioritised for those who needed medical care or kept back for those who might fall seriously ill.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

"Just because you say it, doesn’t mean tests will appear, reagents will appear, swabs will appear. Or the machines in the labs would suddenly materialise," he said. Instead tests had to be "redirected" to health facilities where they could be the most use.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

In the afternoon we heard from Robin Swann, the Ulster Unionist MP and health minister at time. He said "test, test, test" was an "easy soundbite" but reality was that Northern Ireland simply didn't have enough capacity to continue widespread community testing at that point.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, the current first minister but deputy at the time, was more outspoken, as you might imagine. In the 16/3 meeting she argued NI should not just be "blindly following" England and should be listening to WHO advice to "test, test, test".

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Foster said the decision was the wrong one, given the low number of confirmed cases in Northern Ireland at the time, and "I do think we should have continued it [community testing] for a while".

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Instead Foster said she was only made aware of this at a meeting of the Northern Ireland executive on 16/3/20 - some four days later - when she was told about it by her health minister Robin Swann. By then it had already been implemented.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill were both dialled into that meeting and told about the decision. But both said it was not clear that meant that all community testing would ALSO be stopped in Northern Ireland where there had only been 20 confirmed Covid cases at the time.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

This all started with a Cobra meeting, chaired by Boris Johnson, on 12/3/20 where was made clear UK government was moving from 'contain' to 'delay' part of its strategy. Meant early community test & trace efforts would be paused and tests used in hospitals and care homes instead.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

That meeting was repeatedly described by multiple witnesses as fraught and tense which - in diplomatic inquiry terms means SERIOUS ARGUMENT. Today we heard evidence from four people there - including then first minister Arlene Foster, and deputy FM at the time Michelle O'Neill.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Quick summary of what happened today at #covidinquiry where it's all been about test and trace in Northern Ireland. And all focus was on what sounds like a right barney of a meeting on 16 March 2020 - a week before lockdown - about a decision to scrap community testing for Covid.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

In questioning from bereaved families, it was put to him that Wales was often slower with measures than England. He said that often UK ministers liked to "announce" something and then start later whereas in Wales would announce when ready to go, which explained the difference.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Cited a 2021 paper that found most benefit is from isolating index (first) case in cluster and benefit from contacting their close contacts is "marginal". Said: "Were there other things could do? We never did ask ourselves that question because so invested in making system work."

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Was interesting bit at end where he became the first witness to suggest the whole concept of contact tracing MIGHT have been misguided. "Thinking back, I do wonder whether with industrial scale of contact tracing... did we get adequate return in terms of health protection?"

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

He was again asked about (apparently) lower uptake of the NHS App in Wales and was very sceptical about the data. But did suggest could be older population so digital exclusion and said Wales didn't rely on app in same way as had "more successful" contact tracing operation.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

He was asked about decision by Wales to develop own test and trace programme rather than use English one. He said one reason was language & cultural issues - "would someone in Billericay (Essex) know names of Welsh towns & villages?" Poss 1st Gavin & Stacey reference at inquiry!

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

He said that evidence around asymptomatic transmission only accumulated slowly and that even Sir Chris Whitty was still saying in August 2020 that the evidence was "not conclusive" on the subject.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Like Gething (see earlier thread) he was asked about asymptomatic transmission of the virus and why it took until early 2021 for the Welsh government to bring in weekly testing of NHS workers without symptoms.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

And finally we heard about 90 mins worth of testimony from Wales's former first minister Mark Drakeford, making his third appearance at #covidinquiry. Again he was asked about Welsh government policies to do with test and trace.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Finally Gething spoke again about his frustration dealing with counterparts in London in Covid saying the sharing of information - or lack of it - with UK government put Welsh ministers in a "really poor position" and is something the "public should be concerned about".

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

NB: The head of the National Police Chiefs Counsel Martin Hewitt gave evidence last week saying some of this difference could be explained by fact some communities were less likely to have access to outside space, parks etc so more likely to receive fixed penalty notices.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Added that it was "not surprising" that a disproportionate number of fines went to black/Asian groups as was "an example of unconscious bias" in the police that cannot be explained by "different levels of criminality or income".

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Wales, like England, also brought in criminal sanctions including fines for those who ignored instructions to self-isolate. Gething said the rules had put some in "invidious" position of trying to feed families or keep a roof over their head, while trying to do the right thing.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Like other witnesses he was asked about the - apparently - low uptake of NHS Covid app in Wales (although was no lower than some parts of England to be honest). He said was "proximity app", not a "contact tracing app" and he "couldn't honestly say" why rates were lower in Wales.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Gething said would not have been "practicable" to adopt more precautionary approach as "our understanding was still developing" and advice he received at time did not advise asymptomatic testing. Would have moved resources away from other priorities - given capacity was limited.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

One other major theme is why took so long to start testing asymptomatic people - in particular healthcare workers - who could spread virus to most vulnerable. Wales didn't start until May 2020 for SOME care home staff and most NHS staff did not get weekly tests until early 2021.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

A lot has been written about the Roche deal in the past so not going to go into it again here but - safe to say - Welsh ministers are still very upset. "I’m really keen not to point fingers at people... [But] there were plenty of people bruised by what happened," said Gething.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

The idea was to replace limited contact tracing led by Public Health Wales with much larger effort. But "unfortunately scale-up didn't happen" partly because a deal with supplier Roche to provide 5,000 test a day for Wales collapsed, he said. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wale...

bbc.co.uk

Covid tests clearly prioritised for England, Public Health Wales boss claimed in email

An email from a senior Welsh health official claims a batch meant for Wales had been

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

That's been heavily criticised by a number of witnesses. Gething said community testing stopped in Wales on 17 March as well. Why? He said was about the "progress of the virus" which was moving east to west across UK and made contact tracing unsustainable.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

One key issue inquiry has focused on is government decision to stop all community testing in England on 12 March 2020. The idea was that, with Covid spreading so rapidly, was no point attempting to trace contacts anymore, so moved from "contain" to "delay" part of its response.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

nd in this afternoon's session at #covidinquiry... there was more on the Welsh government response re: test and trace. First up was Wales's health minister through most of the pandemic (and then short-lived first minister) Vaughan Gething.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Was asked why it took until Nov 2020 for Welsh Government to introduce £500 (later £750) weekly payment to support self isolation. Said couldn't be earlier because "had to wait for consequential" - i.e. Treasury in England to do same thing and then give money to Wales.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Was asked about NHS Covid App - England and Wales used same version (was different in Scotland and Northern Ireland). Take-up was lower in Wales though. She suggested may be because Welsh government decided not to specifically promote it to focus on human contact tracing instead.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

She said Public Health Wales had repeatedly raised concerns with UKHSA about this and was "assured that all was in order". Erm - it most definitely was not. Welsh tests were only being sent to Wolverhampton in first place "to alleviate pressure" on Newport Lighthouse Lab at time.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

A big chunk of these incorrect results came from Welsh tests. Jo-Anne Daniels said only came to light because of repeat reports from members of public that they were testing positive on lateral flows and then negative on the lab-processed PCR test they sent off afterwards.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

That was an issue when in Oct 2021 it emerged that there were problems at the Immensa lab in Wolverhampton that led to incorrect results. That was quite a scandal at the time - and a subsequent investigation said it may have led to 23 deaths. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...

bbc.co.uk

Immensa lab errors may have led to 23 Covid-19 deaths

A report says 39,000 people may also have been given incorrect PCR results from a private lab.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Some bits that stood out to me from evidence: there was massive Lighthouse laboratory set up in Newport to process PCR tests but didn't get going until Oct 2020. The Lighthouse system was UK-wide so Welsh tests COULD get sent anywhere (though after Oct 2020 most done in Newport).

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Then we heard from Jo-Anne Daniels, the official who led the test and trace programme in Wales (called TTP - Test, Trace & Protect). Here she is on the left hand side being sworn in earlier this morning.

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Jim Reed @jimreedbbc.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

In Oct 2020 we learnt there was advice from the Treasury to pause the approval of new spending on testing because there was a risk of wasted capacity and of "not delivering the best outcomes". But ministers, in the end, rejected that advice and went ahead anyway.

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