The coronavirus contact-tracing app, trialled on the Isle of Wight, has been abandoned by the Government, it has been confirmed this afternoon (Thursday).
The Department for Health and Social Care will instead turn its attention to a decentralised version produced by Apple and Google.
Islanders are being told they can now uninstall the app from their mobile phones.
Developers insist it has not always been the plan to switch to an Apple and Google designed product. However, it is understood the inaccuracy of the NHSX version with iPhones is partly to blame for the change.
On Apple's iPhone, the app only identified about 4% of contacts. Whereas, 75% of contacts were identified on Android.
It is hoped this figure will increase to 99% on both types of devices if the Apple and Google app is rolled out.
Health secretary Matt Hancock says the feedback provided by Island residents would play an 'integral' part in the next phase of development.
He said:
"A huge number of people on the Island have dedicated time to this project and we are hugely grateful.
"Residents on the Isle of Wight have led the way and the feedback from Islanders will remain at the heart of our approach going forward."
When Mr Hancock called on Islanders to lead the way in the development of the pioneering technology, more than 54,000 responded by downloading the app.
Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely says he is "sad" at the decision not to proceed with the app, but insists he will not apologise:
"It was a trial. The point of a trial is that we get to see if the app worked or not.
“The Island played its apart well and most importantly proved its worth as a partner with central Government.
“I want to thank everyone who downloaded the app and who contributed. We played our part in the test. That’s all we could do, and we did it. The Island provided invaluable feedback to the NHS which has informed the future approach and direction of research.
“There have been in the past year, four national trials in which the Island has had an important role. First, the use of high-tech to push forward plans for telemedicine, second the use of drones to support St Mary’s Hospital, third, the trace and test app, and fourth, use of steroids to treat Covid-19.
"At least three out of those four pilots were, or are being, successful, and even the app has been worthwhile in terms of informing next steps.
“I understand that elements of the app have worked well. It was good at measuring distance and Islanders like the idea of a companion app, helping to report symptoms. It may have caused some suppression of the virus, as indicative figures last week showed. It worked well on Android phones However, the app was very poor at picking up iPhone interactions.
“I understand that the Google/Apple app also has flaws, especially at measuring distance, but we I suspect have little choice but to work with Apple since the app will have to work on their phones.
“I will continue to champion the Island. I will continue to champion the Island as the right place to pilot schemes. I will do so because we need to get the Island at the front of the queue, not the back, where we have been for too long. I am unapologetic about this.
“Once again, thank you to Islanders for their support for the app project.”
It is not yet known when the new app will be rolled out, if at all. Although developers are hoping for progress by Autumn/Winter.
They insist the scrapping of the current app does not set back the overall test and trace scheme, as the human contact tracing system is already underway.
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