UK Covid Inquiry Module 5 Report – FEMHO Press Release
UK COVID-19 Inquiry finds that PPE stockpiling failed to take sufficient account of the “diverse composition” of our health and social care workforce, procuring an insufficient size and fit range of protective equipment.
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 5 report on procurement underlines serious failings in the preparation, management of procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic. As the Federation of Ethnic Minority Healthcare Organisations (FEMHO) highlighted throughout its engagement in the Module, a key failing – acknowledged in the new report – is that there was a stark failure to ensure that PPE stockpiles and procurement processes during the pandemic reflected and provided for the diverse composition of the health and social care workforce.
It is well established that protective respirator masks, for example, have been standardly procured to a design based on a White Male face shape and anthropometrics. The report confirms that the pandemic stockpile was not subject to adequate oversight and did not sufficiently account for the range of sizes, fits and physical characteristics required by frontline workers. In particular, the lack of adequate FFP3 respirator options left many ethnic minority healthcare workers without properly fitting PPE to provide protection to themselves and their patients.
These findings reinforce what frontline staff and representative groups such as FEMHO have repeatedly raised: that shortages, poor fit, inconsistent supply and limited engagement with those most affected placed health and social care workers at avoidable risk of serious harm.
Whilst FEMHO is pleased that this core issue has been acknowledged, it is disappointed that the report does not go further. For example, there is scant consideration of the human impact of these failings in the procurement process. So too there is little analysis or acknowledgement of the anecdotal evidence as to continuing issues throughout the pandemic with supply of adequate PPE on the frontline, at odds with the government’s position referenced in the report that – in summary – it rectified issues by purchasing more types of mask and ending up with an excess of PPE. There is no mention at all of the Public Sector Equality Duty in the report, despite there having been substantial evidence heard as to the lack of consideration given and potential breaches arising.
Future pandemic planning must be grounded in equality, safety, transparency and meaningful consultation with the workforce. FEMHO welcomes the Inquiry’s recommendation that pandemic stockpiles should better reflect the composition of the UK’s health and social care workforce and be aligned with regular fit-testing and sizing requirements. The Government must now act without delay to ensure that future procurement systems are robust, equitable, inclusive and capable of getting the right equipment to the right people at the right time.
Professor J S Bamrah of FEMHO says:
“I am deeply disappointed at the lack of reference to ethnicity or race in the report. The Covid pandemic disproportionately affected a large sector of communities and I see this as an opportunity lost to ram home the ample evidence available and make sure that there are proper safeguards to better protect these communities in future pandemics.”
Isabel Gregory of Saunders Law says:
“Issues with PPE fit for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic healthcare workers were known prior to the pandemic. The failure to address such racial inequalities in procurement processes left frontline staff exposed to avoidable harm. As Professor Bamrah notes, it is very disappointing that the report doesn’t go further into these important issues. Without a full analysis and reckoning with the underlying reasons for these systemic and ongoing failures, we fear the same mistakes will be repeated again and lessons will not be learnt.”
About the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and FEMHO
The UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry was established to examine the preparedness, response and handling of the pandemic. The Inquiry has taken a modular approach with ten focused areas of examination. Module 5 focused on procurement.
The Federation of Ethnic Minority Healthcare Organisations represents the interests of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic healthcare workers and communities in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
Legal Representation: Saunders Law's team is led by Cyrilia Davies Knight and Isabel Gregory, working alongside a counsel team comprising Leslie Thomas KC and Una Morris (Garden Court Chambers); Philip Dayle (39 Essex Chambers); Elaine Banton (7BR Chambers); and Ifeanyi Odogwu (Matrix Chambers).
Contact Information
Saunders Law
Telephone: +44 (0)207 632 4300
www.saunders.co.uk