James Bethell
I spoke to Doug. He says he has some more kits that he could send out on Thursday. I’ve asked [redacted] if there could possibly pls be enough lab capacity to process these (thats the bottleneck). I’ll keep you updated. But one for you to mention if you’re speaking [redacted] and feel like gently leaning on the point [27/04/2020, 15:46:05]
Matt Hancock
If only 20% are being returned then we can send many many many more out [27/04/2020, 16:00:52]
James Bethell
That’s true. Since they count from the moment they’re sent. I’ll prod nicely. Can you pls prod too [27/04/2020, 16:03:51] Needing all the help he could get with increasing the uptake in testing, Mr Hancock turned to his old boss George Osborne, the former chancellor who was by then editor of the London Evening Standard. Mr Hancock had been Mr Osborne’s chief of staff when the latter was shadow chancellor and was in regular contact with him during the pandemic.
Matt Hancock
I need to call in a favour tmrw [28/04/2020, 23:17:01]
Matt Hancock
I currently have 22,000 spare slots tomorrow at my drive thrus. Hence I’ve extended eligibility today. Demand just isnt there. This is obvs good news about spread of virus. But hard for my target [28/04/2020, 23:18:00] Matt Hancock So I really could do with a testing splash [28/04/2020, 23:18:12] Matt Hancock Can we make this happen? [28/04/2020, 23:18:33]
George Osborne
Yes - of course - all you need to do tomorrow is give some exclusive words to the Standard and I’ll tell the team to splash it [28/04/2020, 23:30:57]
George Osborne
You’re almost there [28/04/2020, 23:31:08]
George Osborne
Send the words to me by 8am tomorrow [28/04/2020, 23:31:55]
George Osborne
Message to London? [28/04/2020, 23:32:09]
George Osborne
Get someone to brief Joe Murphy too [28/04/2020, 23:33:58]
Matt Hancock
We’ve expanded our coronavirus testing capacity, so more people can now get a test. Right across London, if you need to leave home to work, or are over 65, or anyone in your household, if you’ve got symptoms you can now apply for a test. Anyone in those groups can apply online now. I want to thank Londoners for what they’ve done to slow the spread and protect the NHS. This expanded testing will help people stay safe and will help London get back on its feet [29/04/2020, 07:05:49]
Matt Hancock
Thank you! Quote [pointing up emoji][29/04/2020, 07:07:09]
Matt Hancock
I’ve also sent to Joe [29/04/2020, 07:07:15]
George Osborne
Great [29/04/2020, 08:00:40]
Matt Hancock
Now I’ll find out how strong the bonds of loyalty are! [29/04/2020, 10:02:25]
George Osborne
You’ll make the front but not as big as 10 mins ago! [29/04/2020, 10:05:31]
Matt Hancock
Fair enough! [29/04/2020, 10:05:40]
George Osborne
And you’ll like the editorial [29/04/2020, 10:06:02]
George Osborne
Well done [29/04/2020, 10:06:11]
Matt Hancock
I WANT TO HIT MY TARGET! [29/04/2020, 10:06:31]
George Osborne
I gathered [29/04/2020, 10:14:23] they made their way across the country.
Kristen Mcleod
Home kits update from amazon – 19k in the bag and they expect to hit either 26 or 27k by midnight (25k was the target) [30/04/2020, 20:02:18]
Emma Dean
[three clapping hands emojis] [30/04/2020, 20:03:51]
Matt Hancock
[grimace emoji]
Kristen Mcleod:
All the Amazon trucks left before midnight with 26k on board […] [01/05/2020, 06:13:16] Matt Hancock I am talking to Kristen about being super careful about the statos adding numbers to the Amazon figures. We must NOT even look like we are adding any spares. She is on it - [redacted] is leading but FYI [01/05/2020, 12:11:40] Emma Dean 100%. Having same conversation [01/05/2020, 12:11:59] Emma Dean We should down play some areas if needed and push figures into tomorrow [01/05/2020, 12:12:24] Matt Hancock IT WILL BE OVER 120,000 [01/05/2020, 12:25:25] Matt Hancock So we should be very very careful that the statos don’t accidentally make us look flaky [01/05/2020, 12:25:44] Emma Dean Definitely [01/05/2020, 12:25:55] Duncan Selbie PHE sends the CMO and GCSA a serology report each Thursday. On the numbers for yesterday our contribution to pillar 1 was: PHE labs 4819 Roche 13723 and on Porton serology 1072 [01/05/2020, 13:22:47]
Matt Hancock
Amazing. That Roche ramp is extraordinary [01/05/2020, 13:48:02]
Sam
Really amazing work everyone - well done!! The Roche ramp up is a one-off, definitely not one to inform targets in May! We used up a large amount of accumulated stock from April, which is a situation we won’t find ourselves in again very soon .... [01/05/2020, 14:16:40]
Gina Coladangelo
Almost every person on Twitter says the goal has been SMASHED [01/05/2020, 17:32:11]
Gina Coladangelo
They are all right! [01/05/2020, 17:32:20]
Gina Coladangelo
Drinks cold in fridge at DH. Feel free to open them before we are back [01/05/2020, 17:32:53]
Boris Johnson
It’s all about testing. That’s our Achilles heel We can’t deliver a sensible border policy or adequate track and trace because we can’t test enough. Did we go to the Germans for those kits that Angela Merkel was offering? What is wrong with us as a country that we can’t fix this? [04/06/2020, 06:43:44]
Boris Johnson
We have had months and months [04/06/2020, 06:47:52]
Boris Johnson
I am going quietly crackers about this [04/06/2020, 06:48:08]
Matt Hancock
Don’t go crackers. We have test capacity enough to do this. We now have the biggest testing capacity in Europe. The problem is the false negatives - so the medics are against releasing from self isolation (whether for quarantine or T&T) with a nagative test. No-one in the world releases from quarantine with a negative test [04/06/2020, 08:02:03]
Matt Hancock
I went back to CMO and pushed this. I’ll send you the note he sent me [04/06/2020, 08:02:38]
Damon Poole
Spectator TV. Have negotiated with them that if we do it, it should be very short. I’m still working out if possible with logistics. My advice: There is decent upside to doing the interview in terms of relations with the spectator. There is significant risk in any A Neil interview. On balance I don’t think you should do it because he could go hard on testing capacity and we have a good excuse as to why you can’t do it. [03/09/2020, 13:21:42]
Damon Poole
Simon Thompson is doing broadcast tomorrow[26/09/2020, 22:20:53]
Damon Poole
I could have done better hosing it down but there was a genuine operational problem, one that I can’t get my head around. I was also only first alerted to it by the fact the app’s Twitter account stated that p1 was not plugged in. [26/09/2020, 22:28:01]
Damon Poole
And I’m in touch with [Oliver] Dowden’s team so he pushed back hard in the morning [26/09/2020, 22:30:34]
Damon Poole
Can push back hard [26/09/2020, 22:31:47]
Matt Hancock
Thanks. Crucial Olive [Dowden] just says “it’s fixed” or even better “it’s impressive they fixed it so fast”. What programmes is Simon Thompson doing? That could EASILY go wrong. Did you approve it? He has zero experience at this level - he is highly liable to say something that is technically right but politically naive [26/09/2020, 22:46:37]
Damon Poole
I’ll pull it, was just LBC it had been around as part of the plan from launch. [26/09/2020, 22:49:46]
Damon Poole
But yes considering where we are at, best to be cautious [26/09/2020, 22:50:04]
Matt Hancock
I think probably best - use the fact we’ve fixed it and the 10m downloads as the chance to kick it on. We’ll also hit 20m tests in total since they were invented tmrw... [26/09/2020, 23:08:33]
Matt Hancock
What I need from Simon is an explanation of what the hell happened [26/09/2020, 23:12:07]
George Osborne
Trying to spread the responsibility from you to Number 10 - I’ve said it before. [09/11/2020, 15:14:56]
Matt Hancock
Ok but mass testing is going v well - I fear this looks like you asked for me to be overruled... [09/11/2020, 15:16:30]
George Osborne
No one thinks testing is going well, Matt. If I wanted a test today I can’t get one, unless I fake symptoms - and [redacted] is still waiting test results from 3 weeks ago (we went private in the end). My point has been that DS has not thrown the weight and resources of government behind your heroic efforts. And that’s why we entered a second lockdown. And btw thousands of civil servants are still working on lorry parks in Kent because this government has no sense of priority [09/11/2020, 15:22:55]
Matt Hancock
Hmm I don’t think this is right but I can see where you’re coming from [09/11/2020, 15:25:07]