The fifth of the inquiry's 10 investigations, found systemic flaws, inadequate planning and other failures caused unnecessary delays in health and social care staff getting the personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and testing equipment they desperately needed.
Baroness Heather Hallett, chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, said: ‘The changes I recommend are an investment in the resilience and preparedness of the UK. They are a small price to pay to ensure that, next time, the public can be confident in the crucial spending decisions that will have to be made and that key healthcare equipment gets to those who need it at the right time. A better prepared emergency procurement system will reduce the cost of obtaining essential supplies and save lives.'
The inquiry found doctors, nurses and care sector staff worked without adequate PPE or sufficient healthcare equipment such as ventilators as the pandemic worsened.
Of the approximately £14.9bn spent on PPE, nearly two thirds – almost £10bn – was wasted. The total spent across the UK Government and devolved administrations on PPE, ventilators and testing equipment between January 2020 and June 2022 exceeded £42bn.
The report made 11 recommendations, including radically overhauling supply chain resilience and emergency procurement and distribution systems.
It said the ‘High Priority Lane' that gave some suppliers favourable treatment on account of their connections with the Government was ‘a misguided attempt at prioritisation that created unfairness and undermined public trust'.
The report's investigation of contracts to PPE Medpro Ltd cannot be published while criminal investigations are ongoing.
Reaction
UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said: ‘It's scandalous health and care workers were dying as so-called VIPs earned billions supplying unusable or wasted kit.
‘Staff were effectively abandoned while doing their jobs protecting the public. Their families will have to endure this devastating loss for the rest of their lives.
‘What's needed is an open and transparent system for awarding contracts to avoid costly mistakes if there's another pandemic.'
A Government spokesperson said: ‘Today's report makes for sobering reading. The Government thanks Baroness Hallett and her team for their thorough work on these serious issues.
‘We will consider its findings and recommendations in detail and respond in due course. The Government remains committed to learning the lessons needed from the Covid Inquiry to protect and prepare us for the future.'
