Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
From 13 March the Department, therefore, stepped up its efforts to purchase ventilators directly from...
Conclusion
From 13 March the Department, therefore, stepped up its efforts to purchase ventilators directly from overseas with significant help from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of International Trade in China.18 The Department told us that while it was somewhat ahead of other countries in moving to international procurement, there was soon “huge competition” for devices as other countries quickly followed based on what was happening in Lombardy, Italy. We heard that this involved large daily price changes and that the Department was “gazumped” on several occasions as it would not go above certain price thresholds.19
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
3.2 The majority of devices purchased during this period were through framework agreements where NHS standard procurement processes had been followed. These include usual full due diligence checks.