LGA responds to NAO report on the supply of PPE during the pandemic

Responding to a National Audit Office report on the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus pandemic, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:

“Care home staff and those working in people’s homes have been doing an incredible job in extremely challenging circumstances throughout this crisis.

“As this report highlights, care providers said they struggled to access the PPE they needed and were very close to running out.

“There were also significant delays to the publication of specific guidance and in setting up a dedicated PPE supply chain to providers, as well as reports from councils about the NHS receiving priority stocks of PPE over social care during the first wave.

“It is good that we now have a central stockpile and dedicated supply, alongside a government commitment to fund coronavirus-related PPE to the end of this financial year.

“The Spending Review must provide councils with the extra funding they need to help shore up social care this winter and get through the second wave of COVID-19, while also using this as the basis for future reform to place social care on a long-term, sustainable footing.”