Recommendation 19

We were keen to know how the Department would ensure sufficient stockpiles of PPE and testing capacity as it rolls out its ambitious ‘track and trace’ programme and the NHS resumes routine services while continuing to deal with COVID-19 this autumn and winter.54 It reiterated that testing capacity had now expanded significantly.55 Public Health England also explained that it was “ramping up” the size of its local health protection teams from 360 staff to 1,100 by the end of July, in light of the test and trace part of the programme.56 Given its failure to boost the PPE stockpile during January and February despite recommendations from the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, we asked how the Department was going to ensure lessons were learned so there would be adequate PPE this winter. The Department claimed it had been in the process of responding to this advice when COVID-19 hit. It said it was aiming in future to have PPE supply for 90 days ahead by signing longer-term contracts to guarantee overseas supply; increasing the proportion of PPE made domestically; and better understanding demand.57 Managing staff well-being