Commons Sense

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DHSC Update

31 January 2022

Proposing MP
Edward Argar Con
Melton and Syston
Type
Written Ministerial Statement
Department
Department of Health and Social Care
View on Parliament.uk -->

At a Glance

Issue Summary

The statement addresses the accounting impairment impact of equipment purchased during the pandemic.

Action Requested

The Department of Health and Social Care is publishing information on their purchasing efforts for critical supplies, assessing the diminishment in value of their stock holding due to changes in market prices and quality issues, and establishing a redistribution team to manage surplus inventory effectively. They are also working on revising the Pandemic Preparedness stockpile strategy.

Key Facts

  • The government secured over 17.5 billion items of PPE during the pandemic.
  • The cost of nitrile gloves increased six-fold at the height of the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels.
  • Additional stock worth £0.8 billion was developed based on reasonable worst-case scenario planning.
  • A small proportion (3%) of purchased items, equivalent to £0.7 billion, were deemed not suitable for use.
  • The department has identified alternative uses or resale potential for excess inventory, such as donating masks to other departments.
  • The department is tendering a third-party medical laboratory to test PPE products and extend shelf life.
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