Covid inquiry latest: Damning report slams ‘inherently biased’ VIP lane contracts and £10bn wasted on PPE

Downing Street said the Covid Inquiry report “makes it difficult to read”.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman added: “The pandemic has had a profound and lasting impact on our society and this government is determined to learn the lessons from the Covid Inquiry so that we are protected and prepared for the future.”

Inquiry chair Heather Hallett made 11 recommendations following today’s report into the government’s procurement process.

The key points are as follows:

• Establishing systems for emergency supply and distribution of healthcare equipment, with supply chain resilience and a radical overhaul of emergency supply and distribution systems;
• As part of pandemic planning, the establishment of an urgent international trade and domestic industrial strategy in which essential healthcare equipment is seen as a strategic national asset worthy of investment;
• Setting specific targets for international trade and domestic industry during the pandemic, creating an environment to encourage investment, research and development in the advanced production of healthcare equipment to increase self-sufficiency; And
• Expanding technology and effective use of real-time data that needs to be interoperable between the UK government and devolved administrations.

The UK’s existing PPE stocks were in a “precarious situation” when the Covid pandemic hit, leaving the country “unprepared” as global demand soared.

Today’s Covid Inquiry report revealed the UK had large quantities of expired equipment in its stockpiles and only a third of masks in the UK’s pre-pandemic stock were considered usable.

Meanwhile, plans to procure more equipment had never been stress tested before, causing officials to “improvise” new systems in a matter of days.

“Vital health equipment reviewed in this Report, including PPE, testing equipment and ventilators, has become a valuable commodity,” the report said. “International demand has skyrocketed, global supply chains have come under pressure, and prices have risen uncontrollably.”

The government’s lack of transparency in contracts with medical equipment suppliers during the pandemic has damaged public trust, a report has found.

The Covid investigation found that although it was “understandable” that the rapid supply of equipment was initially prioritized, a lack of clarity remained.

“This meant that public confidence in the emergency procurement system diminished when criticisms emerged (for example about the High Priority Lane),” the report said.

“If the UK government and the devolved administrations had been better prepared for the emergency supply and distribution response, there would have been less waste, more trust and more confidence in the system.”

Today’s Covid investigation report revealed that a lack of effective preparation for the supply of PPE left them without adequate equipment to protect themselves.

The report found that the UK entered the pandemic with PPE stockpiles in a “dangerous state”.

It found that as equipment was being distributed, health and social care workers had to report deficiencies and concerns about the quality and safety of the equipment being supplied.

It was also stated that there was no appropriate plan for the supply and distribution of essential health equipment in case of any emergency.

“This has left health and social care workers without adequate personal protective equipment to protect themselves and those they care for from infection.”

Baroness Heather Hallett, chair of the inquiry, criticized the “VIP line” used to expedite the supply of PPE from companies with links to the Government.

He said: “Under intense pressure from ministers to ensure aid offers are managed properly, authorities have created the high priority lane.

“But this was a misguided attempt at prioritisation.

“In the fight against the crisis, some suppliers were given preferential treatment simply because of their connections with the government.”

This “created injustice” and “undermined public confidence” at a time when billions of pounds were at stake.

“It should not have been established and should not have been repeated,” he said.

The UK’s over-reliance on China has left it dangerously exposed when it comes to PPE supplies during the pandemic, a report has revealed.

The UK’s latest Covid-19 research report found the UK’s supplier base was “too concentrated” in China, while local manufacturing capabilities were not adequately taken into account in planning, leaving the country “vulnerable at a critical moment”.

Inquiry chair Heather Hallett said that in future the UK needed to diversify its international supplier base and increase its own domestic industrial resilience.

“The UK’s strengths in life sciences and advanced manufacturing must be recognized and supported,” he said, adding: “These will be vital in the response to a future pandemic.”

Government wasted £10bn of taxpayers’ money on PPE

The report, published on Tuesday, found that almost two-thirds of the nearly £14.9bn spent on PPE – almost £10bn – was wasted. He said there were clearly risks of waste due to “over-purchasing and loss of large amounts of public money” and “purchasing substandard equipment”.

Government’s ‘VIP Line’ is ‘inherently biased’ against suppliers with government links

The report found the government’s ‘VIP Route’, which allowed politicians and senior officials to direct potential government PPE suppliers, was “misguided” and should not be repeated. The report found that, although unintentional, the system was “inherently biased” against those with links to the UK government, “increasing the risk of abuse”.

VIP Lane suppliers are 13 times more likely to get a contract – but they’re also more likely to experience performance issues

Healthcare workers left ‘vulnerable’ due to PPE shortage

UK ‘unprepared’ to supply PPE as global demand ‘soars’

Britain’s over-reliance on China for PPE has left it dangerously exposed

Baroness Heather Hallett, chair of the Covid inquiry, said its findings showed a “fundamental change in the way the UK prepares for emergency supply” was needed.

In a statement, Lady Hallett said: “It was a huge waste of taxpayers’ money.

“It is an absolute fact that of the nearly £15 billion spent on PPE, almost two-thirds (almost £10 billion) is wasted, with tens of millions more pounds spent on equipment that cannot be used by governments across the UK.

“These figures require a fundamental change in the way the UK prepares for emergency supplies.

“If ministers and officials were better equipped with appropriate plans, information and systems, purchasing decisions would be easier, fairer and much less costly, and equipment would reach those who need it more quickly.”

Lady Hallett found in her report that the UK was inadequately prepared for the pandemic, with existing stocks of PPE in a “dangerous state” and large amounts of expired equipment.

It found that only a third of the masks in England’s pre-pandemic stock were available, while Scotland was in short supply of the high-end FFP3 masks needed by healthcare professionals.