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About £1 billion worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) ordered by the government was burned during the Covid pandemic, according to official figures.
According to Department of Health and Human Services (DHSC) statistics, a total of over 1.4 billion PPE items are consumed, including over 570 million aprons, over 360 million eye protectors, and 450 million eye protectors. Contains over 10,000 face masks.
It also includes 4.7 million coveralls, 4.5 million gowns, 400,000 gloves and 8.3 million “hand hygiene” items.
The 1.4 billion burned items form part of a total of more than 3 billion PPE items purchased and disposed of by governments during the pandemic by February 28 this year.
I An analysis of items disposed of using what the agency calls an ‘energy from waste’ process suggests the total value of PPE burned is about 960.6 million pounds.
This figure was calculated by comparing the National Audit Office (NAO) unit price estimate for PPE items with the total number disposed using energy from the waste process, and was disputed by the DHSC. not chanted.
Andy Britten, the department’s finance director, recently told the Commons Board of Public Accounts that energy from waste includes burning PPE to produce energy produced from coal. DHSC said 1.4 billion was simply incinerated.
DHSC data, released Thursday along with a slew of transparency data on the last day of Congress’ term, showed a total of 3.14 billion PPE items had been recycled, energy from waste processes, including some incineration. was discarded due to mixing of , donate, sell.
About 19,600 pallets (1.47 billion) were recycled and 131,900 pallets (1.4 billion) were sent to make energy from waste.
Approximately 6,100 pallets of PPE have been donated to other countries and events such as the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
The government has repeatedly faced criticism for its handling of PPE during the pandemic, including buying unwanted items.
Last year, the Commons Public Accounts Committee said the government lost 75% of the £12 billion it spent on PPE in the first year of the pandemic due to high prices and kits that didn’t meet requirements. Used by the NHS.
In December the government announced it would sue one company that supplied the government with PPE for £122m and costs. PPE Medpro won the deal after being recommended by Tory Peer’s girlfriend, Baroness Mone. She denies any wrongdoing.
The government is trying to get the money back in one of its High Court deals, alleging that the medical gowns provided “did not conform to contract specifications.”
PPE Medpro says it defends this claim vigorously.
A DHSC spokesperson said:
“This has allowed us to keep the NHS open and protect as many people as possible.
“We will continue to sell, donate, reuse and recycle PPE in the most cost-effective manner, including donating millions of items in over 40 countries, to reduce excess inventory.”