Boris Johnson is under pressure to set up a public inquiry into his government’s “grotesque failure” to provide frontline NHS workers with enough protective equipment.
And last night as an RAF plane took off for Turkey hoping to pick up 84 tonnes of PPE that was promised three days ago, an NHS boss demanded an end to “hand-to-mouth” deliveries.
Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, said the 400,000 gowns in the shipment would be welcome, but was not even a three-day supply as staff were using approximately 150,000 gowns a day.
He demanded “sustainable supplies” that arrive “consistently and reliably”. TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady called on ministers to commit to an independent judge-led inquiry into the distribution problems