A report published by the Covid-19 inquiry, produced by Baroness Heather Hallett, finds that procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic involved “vast” waste, which is estimated at up to £10 billion. The finding is set out in the inquiry’s fifth report. The report focuses on how PPE was bought and distributed at points during the Covid period and concludes that the scale of losses and inefficiencies reached levels described as substantial.
The outlets summarising the report state that the inquiry’s conclusions concern PPE procurement specifically, rather than other pandemic spending areas. The reporting also indicates the assessment is part of the ongoing work of the Covid-19 inquiry, which has issued multiple reports as it examines decision-making and processes used during the pandemic response.
Overall, the available coverage agrees on the core message: the inquiry’s fifth report highlights significant waste in PPE procurement, quantified in media reporting as up to £10 billion.
