Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
We have previously noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the tragic impact of delaying...
Conclusion
We have previously noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the tragic impact of delaying much needed social care reform and integration with health, and instead treating the sector as the NHS’s poor relation.35 Between March 2020 and July 2020, the Department provided NHS trusts with 1.9 billion items of PPE, equivalent to 80% of their estimated need. Over the same period, it provided 331 million items to the adult social care sector, equivalent to 10% of its estimated need. Of the total PPE distributed between March and July, trusts received 81% and adult social care 14%.36 The Department told us that this imbalance was a consequence of the arrangements for supplying PPE 31 Qq 8–10, 13–14, 17–18, 22, 29, 34, 37, 38, 40, 46, 66–67, 122 32 Qq 125–128 33 Qq 140–143, 156; C&AG’s Report The supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, paras 2.5–2.6 34 Qq 131, 142–143, 156; C&AG’s Report The supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, paras 2.5–2.6 35 House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, Readying the NHS and social care for the COVID-19 peak, Session 2019–2021, HC 405, 29 July 2020, para 3 36 C&AG’s Report The supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, para 19 18 COVID-19: Government procurement and supply of Personal Protective Equipment before the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, social care providers tended to buy their PPE directly from wholesalers, while trusts tended to buy from the NHS Supply Chain. The Department told us its intention therefore was to provide PPE to social care providers as an “emergency top-up” when their usual suppliers could not provide it, rather than the Department becoming their main supplier. But social care representatives told us that providers were unable to get PPE from their usual suppliers or from the Department, and consequently providers reported shortages.37
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4: PAC conclusion: The Department’s focus on supporting hospitals meant assistance to social care providers was neglected. 4: PAC recommendation: The Department should write to the Committee by the end of April 2021 to explain how it will revise its emergency response plans so that they include who will be supported, how and when. This must give appropriate weight to all sectors of health and social care, as well as occupations outside these sectors which are also at risk. 4. 1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2021 4.2 Protecting the social care sector has been a government priority throughout the pandemic. The government provided a diverse support package to the social care sector, starting with a 7 million-item push to support immediate shortages. Support was further bolstered out through dedicated wholesales, release of PPE to local resilience forums and setting up of the National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR) hotline. By April 2020, a PPE Portal was being piloted with the social care sector in mind as a key stakeholder. An Adult Social Care PPE Task and Finish Group was established in April 2020, gathering insights from the sector and have carried out surveys to understand better customer needs. 4.3 The PPE Portal started as an emergency top-up but has expanded rapidly, increasing the number of providers registered and increasing order limits. Free PPE for COVID-19 uses is now provided to social care providers and will be available until the end of March 2022. Up to April 2021, 2 billion items have been delivered through the PPE portal and 94% of care homes and 85% of domiciliary homes have registered. 4.4 Work is underway to confirm the future approach for the management of PPE, including ensuring a strong supply of PPE for both health and care sectors. More information about the future approach will be available in due course and the department will write to the Committee with an update on this by the end of April 2021. 4.5 The department is developing a framework to determine how government might best respond to a shortage of PPE for health and social care settings in addition to wider sectors. This framework has the potential to be adapted and implemented for any future needs.