Recommendation 9

In our June 2022 report on the Department’s 2020–21 Annual Report and Accounts we noted the lack of planning for how big a PPE stockpile needed to be, and also the need to build greater resilience into the supply chain.20 We asked the Department again about the need and its future plans for stockpiling items that may be required in the event of a future pandemic. The Department stated there are a number of decisions yet to be made regarding what is included in a stockpile for future pandemics.21 It said that the stockpile held was invaluable for the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.22 However, one of its big limitations was the ability to create domestic supply and it advised us that it is working on strengthening domestic PPE supply chains.23 The Department confirmed that, at the time we took evidence in March, it had at least four months’ worth of PPE, particularly inventory, in its stockpiles.24 18 DHSC 2021–22 ARA, page 364 19 Q 82 20 Committee of Public Accounts, Department of Health and Social Care 2020–21 Annual Report and Accounts, Sixth Report of Session 2022–23, HC 253, 10 June 2022 21 Q 101 22 Q 117 23 Q 117 24 Q 80 Department of Health and Social Care 2021–22 Annual Report and Accounts 11 2 UKHSA