UK wasted £9.9 billion on Covid PPE, finds inquiry; stockpile, procurement flaws flagged
A UK public inquiry has revealed that nearly £9.9 billion was wasted on Covid-19 personal protective equipment due to poor planning and emergency procurement flaws. While the report criticized the government's 'VIP lane' for preferential treatment, it found no evidence of corruption or cronyism.
Why it matters
The findings highlight significant failures in government crisis management and public spending oversight during the pandemic.
Nearly £9.9 billion worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) bought during the Covid-19 pandemic was wasted in the UK, a public inquiry has found. It concluded that the country entered the health crisis with inadequate stockpiles and an emergency procurement system that was ill-prepared for the surge in demand.In a report released on Tuesday, inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett said the UK and devolved governments spent £14.9 billion on PPE during the pandemic, with around two-thirds of that expenditure ultimately written off as unused or expired equipment, as reported by BBC.UK began the pandemic with its PPE stockpile in a "perilous state" and was "simply not ready to compete" in the global race to secure masks, gowns and gloves as Covid-19 spread.According to the inquiry, shortages of protective equipment put NHS staff and patients at risk, while care homes, GP surgeries and pharmacies were left to source their own PPE,…
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in