UK Government destroys £1.4B of PPE from one Covid deal
The UK government faces criticism over a £1.4bn PPE contract with Full Support Healthcare, resulting in the disposal of 1.57 billion unused items. Opposition parties condemn the deal as wasteful, despite meeting manufacturing standards. Full Support Healthcare profits surged post-contract.
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The UK government has faced criticism for a £1.4bn PPE contract with Full Support Healthcare, resulting in the destruction or write-off of 1.57 billion items of PPE. The deal, signed in April 2020, was the largest Covid PPE order from a single supplier. Despite the proper manufacturing standards, most of the PPE will never be used. The Labour Party and Liberal Democrats have condemned the contract as a "staggering waste" and a "colossal misuse of public funds." Full Support Healthcare, a specialist PPE manufacturer, saw a significant increase in profits following the contract. The company provided 2.02 billion items of PPE, but only a fraction was dispatched to healthcare settings. The government attributed the excessive procurement to the global PPE shortage during the pandemic. The company's founders, Sarah and Richard Stoute, have faced scrutiny for their offshore business operations and extravagant purchases. The government continues to store and dispose of excess PPE at a significant cost. The Department of Health and Social Care refutes claims that the majority of the PPE was used, highlighting ongoing challenges in managing pandemic-related contracts.
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4 commentsWhole thing is a dodgy mess.
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