The NHS test and trace system for Covid-19 is not expected to be "world class" until at least September, an executive of the scheme reportedly told staff.
Chief operating officer Tony Prestedge admitted in a webinar that the programme would be an "imperfect service at launch" that will "improve over time", The Guardian reports.
In a video obtained by the newspaper from May 27 - the day before the programme launched - Mr Prestedge is said to have told staff that the regime would operate at a world-class level "towards the September or October time".
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs on May 20 the test and trace operation would be "world-beating". It comes as the programme's launch was branded a "complete shambles" with tracers