The Covid-19 Inquiry's searing indictment of the government's PPE procurement strategy has laid bare a stark truth: nearly two-thirds of the £14.9 billion spent on vital equipment was squandered, with billions more still unaccounted for. A staggering £10 billion, equivalent to two-thirds of the total outlay, went towards unsuitable or overpriced supplies that were either stockpiled unnecessarily or not used at all.
Baroness Heather Hallett's report paints a damning picture of a procurement system riddled with inefficiencies and favouritism. While she acknowledges that purchasing more PPE than needed was preferable to shortages, the inquiry stresses that improved planning and better information would have enabled fairer, faster, and cheaper decisions – ensuring frontline workers received vital equipment on time.
The report highlights that Britain's national PPE stockpile was woefully inadequate at the start of the pandemic, with a significant proportion of supplies expiring or being deemed unusable. In England, only a third of pre-pandemic mask stocks were deemed usable, while Scotland had no FFP3 masks – forcing healthcare professionals to resort to makeshift protection measures.
The inquiry also condemns the 'VIP lane' system, introduced in April 2020, which prioritised PPE offers from connections of ministers and senior officials. While Baroness Hallett notes there is no evidence of cronyism or corruption by those involved, the report criticises this approach as inherently biased towards connected individuals – a lesson that must be heeded for future crises.
The report refrains from detailing PPE Medpro's involvement due to an ongoing criminal investigation into the firm, which received government contracts worth over £200 million following Baroness Michelle Mone's recommendation. The company has already been ordered to repay £148 million after breaching a contract to supply surgical gowns. Reporting restrictions remain in place until the conclusion of any potential proceedings.