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Oh, we can still outsource like the best of them, just look up the NHS Track and Trace app to see how badly we can do it (or line the pockets of certain people,

by _joel 2y ago

Oh, we can still outsource like the best of them, just look up the NHS Track and Trace app to see how badly we can do it (or line the pockets of certain people, whichever you prefer).

edent 2y ago
Hello. I worked on that app. You are wrong. Firstly, "Track and Trace" is what the Post Office do. Perhaps you're thinking of "Test and Trace"? Secondly, the UK Government hasn't had app development skills in-house for a long time - see https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2013/03/12/were-not-appy-not-appy-at-all/ https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2013/03/12/were-not-appy-not-appy-at... - so there was little choice but to use an external provider. Thirdly, the initial version of the app was built by an external team who were already engaged with DHSC. They had won a competitive tender (which was published) but, as I'm sure you can understand, there wasn't time to run a new one for the Contact Tracing app. Fourthly, if you have evidence that the development of the app - which was done quickly, with all source code and design documents published as open source, and which saved lives (https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-02-22-nhs-covid-19-app-saved-estimated-10000-lives-its-first-year-research-finds https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-02-22-nhs-covid-19-app-saved-...) - was somehow corrupt, I'm sure we'd all like to see it. Fifthly, if you're about to say "£37bn" - have a read of this https://fullfact.org/health/NHS-test-and-trace-app-37-billion-instagram/ https://fullfact.org/health/NHS-test-and-trace-app-37-billio...
- seagullriffic 2y ago
  Did this app have anything to do with the huge QR codes which encoded far too much information? https://www.revk.uk/2020/09/how-not-to-qr-nhs-c19-app.html https://www.revk.uk/2020/09/how-not-to-qr-nhs-c19-app.html
  - edent 2y ago
    Yes - another bit that I worked on (albeit tangentially). The QR code stuff was an interesting one. There was a worry that people would generate fraudulent codes - hence the weird (in my opinion) signing requirements. Similarly, with a URl there was a risk that people would open the page and think that was all they needed to do. Hence a code designed to be read by a specific app. I think (and you'll have to forgive my slightly hazy memory of a difficult time) that it was based on the same code New Zealand were using for their check-in service.
    - seagullriffic 2y ago
      Interesting! That article I linked had lingered in my memory for a while, so good to hear a response to it!
- _joel 2y ago
  I stand corrected, thanks!
pjc50 2y ago
The big scandal was actually PPE https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/17/how-the-michelle-mone-scandal-unfolded-200m-of-ppe-contracts-denials-and-a-government-lawsuit https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/17/how-the-mich...

by _joel 2y ago

Oh, we can still outsource like the best of them, just look up the NHS Track and Trace app to see how badly we can do it (or line the pockets of certain people, whichever you prefer).

edent 2y ago

Hello. I worked on that app. You are wrong. Firstly, "Track and Trace" is what the Post Office do. Perhaps you're thinking of "Test and Trace"? Secondly, the UK Government hasn't had app development skills in-house for a long time - see https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2013/03/12/were-not-appy-not-appy-at-all/ https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2013/03/12/were-not-appy-not-appy-at... - so there was little choice but to use an external provider. Thirdly, the initial version of the app was built by an external team who were already engaged with DHSC. They had won a competitive tender (which was published) but, as I'm sure you can understand, there wasn't time to run a new one for the Contact Tracing app. Fourthly, if you have evidence that the development of the app - which was done quickly, with all source code and design documents published as open source, and which saved lives (https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-02-22-nhs-covid-19-app-saved-estimated-10000-lives-its-first-year-research-finds https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-02-22-nhs-covid-19-app-saved-...) - was somehow corrupt, I'm sure we'd all like to see it. Fifthly, if you're about to say "£37bn" - have a read of this https://fullfact.org/health/NHS-test-and-trace-app-37-billion-instagram/ https://fullfact.org/health/NHS-test-and-trace-app-37-billio...

seagullriffic 2y ago
Did this app have anything to do with the huge QR codes which encoded far too much information? https://www.revk.uk/2020/09/how-not-to-qr-nhs-c19-app.html https://www.revk.uk/2020/09/how-not-to-qr-nhs-c19-app.html
- edent 2y ago
  Yes - another bit that I worked on (albeit tangentially). The QR code stuff was an interesting one. There was a worry that people would generate fraudulent codes - hence the weird (in my opinion) signing requirements. Similarly, with a URl there was a risk that people would open the page and think that was all they needed to do. Hence a code designed to be read by a specific app. I think (and you'll have to forgive my slightly hazy memory of a difficult time) that it was based on the same code New Zealand were using for their check-in service.
  - seagullriffic 2y ago
    Interesting! That article I linked had lingered in my memory for a while, so good to hear a response to it!
_joel 2y ago
I stand corrected, thanks!

pjc50 2y ago

The big scandal was actually PPE https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/17/how-the-michelle-mone-scandal-unfolded-200m-of-ppe-contracts-denials-and-a-government-lawsuit https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/17/how-the-mich...