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Coronavirus: Safety concerns halt use of 50 million NHS masks Coronavirus: Safety concerns halt use of 50 million NHS masks
(32 minutes later)
Fifty million face masks bought by the government in April will not be used in the NHS because of safety concerns.Fifty million face masks bought by the government in April will not be used in the NHS because of safety concerns.
The government says the masks, which use ear-loop fastenings rather than head loops, may not fit tightly enough.The government says the masks, which use ear-loop fastenings rather than head loops, may not fit tightly enough.
They were bought for healthcare workers from supplier Ayanda Capital as part of a £252m contract.They were bought for healthcare workers from supplier Ayanda Capital as part of a £252m contract.
Ayanda says the masks met the specifications No 10 had set out. The PM said he was "disappointed" that any protective kit should be unfit for use.Ayanda says the masks met the specifications No 10 had set out. The PM said he was "disappointed" that any protective kit should be unfit for use.
An earlier government statement said its safety standards process is "robust".
It has emerged that the person who originally approached the government about the deal was a government trade adviser who also advises the board of Ayanda.It has emerged that the person who originally approached the government about the deal was a government trade adviser who also advises the board of Ayanda.
But he told the BBC his position played no part in the awarding of the contract.But he told the BBC his position played no part in the awarding of the contract.
Asked about the masks, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "very disappointed" that "any consignment of PPE should turn out not to be fit for purpose". Asked about the masks, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "very disappointed" that "any consignment" of personal protective equipment (PPE) "should turn out not to be fit for purpose".
He said there were legal proceedings under way so he would not comment on the specific example. Mr Johnson insisted the government had "achieved a colossal race against time" to produce "billions of items" of PPE and source them from abroad, adding that supplies are now being stockpiled in the event of a second wave later in the year.
Mr Johnson insisted his government had "achieved a colossal race against time" to produce "billions of items" of PPE and source them from abroad, adding that supplies are now being stockpiled in the event of a second wave later in the year. In the early weeks of the pandemic the NHS experienced severe shortages of PPE.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "For months, we were told that the government was purchasing the right equipment for the front line. Yet again it hasn't happened.
Calling for an inquiry into "what went wrong", Sir Keir said the situation was "just not good enough" for the NHS workers who needed the protective kit.
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus, said a clear strategy for procuring protective kit was urgently needed and that No 10 had "serious questions to answer over this shocking waste of taxpayers' money".
In the early weeks of the pandemic the NHS experienced severe shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The government says it had to find new suppliers quickly to meet demand and to compete with rising global competition.The government says it had to find new suppliers quickly to meet demand and to compete with rising global competition.
The procurement of PPE is devolved across the four nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.The procurement of PPE is devolved across the four nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
On 29 April the Department of Health and Social Care signed the £252m contract with Ayanda Capital Limited to supply two types of face masks.On 29 April the Department of Health and Social Care signed the £252m contract with Ayanda Capital Limited to supply two types of face masks.
The most expensive part of the order consisted of 50 million FFP2 respirator masks, which are designed to protect healthcare workers from inhaling harmful particles.The most expensive part of the order consisted of 50 million FFP2 respirator masks, which are designed to protect healthcare workers from inhaling harmful particles.
According to legal papers seen by the BBC, the government says these masks will now not be used in the NHS because of a safety concern about whether they would fit adequately.According to legal papers seen by the BBC, the government says these masks will now not be used in the NHS because of a safety concern about whether they would fit adequately.
To be effective these types of face mask need to fit tightly to create a seal between the mask and the wearer's face. Anyone who wears them for work is required to undergo a face-fit test.To be effective these types of face mask need to fit tightly to create a seal between the mask and the wearer's face. Anyone who wears them for work is required to undergo a face-fit test.
"The face fit is either a pass or a fail and there are more fails on products with ear loops than there are on products with head harnesses," says Alan Murray, chief executive of the British Safety Industry Federation. "The face fit is either a pass or a fail and there are more fails on products with ear loops than there are on products with head harnesses," said Alan Murray, chief executive of the British Safety Industry Federation.
"That means that it wouldn't necessarily provide the protection that was required from it.""That means that it wouldn't necessarily provide the protection that was required from it."
It is not clear what will happen now to the 50 million masks.It is not clear what will happen now to the 50 million masks.
Ayanda Capital also supplied 150 million Type IIR masks, which the government says are unaffected.Ayanda Capital also supplied 150 million Type IIR masks, which the government says are unaffected.
Most have now been delivered but they have not yet been released for use in the NHS and are awaiting further testing.Most have now been delivered but they have not yet been released for use in the NHS and are awaiting further testing.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "For months, we were told that the government was purchasing the right equipment for the front line. Yet again it hasn't happened.
Calling for an inquiry into "what went wrong", Sir Keir said the situation was "just not good enough" for the NHS workers who needed the protective kit.
'Staggering' amounts spent'Staggering' amounts spent
The information was disclosed in a legal response to the Good Law Project, which is seeking to challenge the government in the courts over three PPE contracts it awarded, including Ayanda Capital's.The information was disclosed in a legal response to the Good Law Project, which is seeking to challenge the government in the courts over three PPE contracts it awarded, including Ayanda Capital's.
The campaign group argues the government's awarding of contracts directly to companies during the pandemic, rather than opening them to competition, may have been unlawful.The campaign group argues the government's awarding of contracts directly to companies during the pandemic, rather than opening them to competition, may have been unlawful.
"It's taken this extraordinary sum of public funds and wasted it on PPE that it itself says cannot be released for use in the NHS because it's not safe," said Jolyon Maugham, the Good Law Project's director. Jolyon Maugham, the Good Law Project's director, said it was "important" for a court to examine the contracts to ensure "full transparency of how these staggering amounts of public money have been spent".
"We do think that it's important that the court take a look at these contracts, that it declare them to be unlawful and that there be full transparency of how these staggering amounts of public money have been spent." One procurement expert described the scramble for PPE at the height of the supply crisis as "like the wild west".
Every leading healthcare system was pressing to secure scarce supplies in the global market as coronavirus infections soared.
With fears that PPE might run out at some hospitals, the UK authorities looked everywhere for readily available masks, gowns and visors.
A Turkish consignment was found wanting in May and now details of contracts with little known companies signed by the Department of Health in England have emerged.
It is understandable that officials facing an unprecedented shortage of vital equipment followed up any offer that looked credible.
But the government has to be held accountable for the spending of taxpayers' money and the Good Law project has highlighted deals that raise questions about due process and transparency.
Government adviserGovernment adviser
The government has also disclosed that the original approach to sell the masks came not from Ayanda Capital but from a businessman called Andrew Mills.The government has also disclosed that the original approach to sell the masks came not from Ayanda Capital but from a businessman called Andrew Mills.
His company, Prospermill, had secured the rights to the full production capacity of a large factory in China to produce masks and was able to offer a large quantity almost immediately.His company, Prospermill, had secured the rights to the full production capacity of a large factory in China to produce masks and was able to offer a large quantity almost immediately.
But the legal document seen by the BBC notes that Mr Mills requested the government instead sign the contract for the masks with Ayanda Capital, whose board he advises, because it could arrange overseas payment more quickly.But the legal document seen by the BBC notes that Mr Mills requested the government instead sign the contract for the masks with Ayanda Capital, whose board he advises, because it could arrange overseas payment more quickly.
What do I need to know about the coronavirus?What do I need to know about the coronavirus?
Mr Mills is also an adviser to the UK Board of Trade.Mr Mills is also an adviser to the UK Board of Trade.
He told the BBC his position played no part in the award of the contract, which was subject to the same evaluation as all offers made in response to the government's request for help.He told the BBC his position played no part in the award of the contract, which was subject to the same evaluation as all offers made in response to the government's request for help.
Ayanda Capital Limited said: "The masks supplied went through a rigorous technical assurance programme and meet all the requirements of the technical specifications which were made available online through the government's portal.Ayanda Capital Limited said: "The masks supplied went through a rigorous technical assurance programme and meet all the requirements of the technical specifications which were made available online through the government's portal.
"There are provisions in our contract for product to be rejected if it did not meet the required specification as per the contract. These provisions have not been activated.""There are provisions in our contract for product to be rejected if it did not meet the required specification as per the contract. These provisions have not been activated."
A government statement said: "Throughout this global pandemic, we have been working tirelessly to deliver PPE to protect people on the frontline.
"Over 2.4 billion items have been delivered, and more than 30 billion have been ordered from UK-based manufacturers and international partners to provide a continuous supply, which meets the needs of health and social care staff both now and in the future.
"There is a robust process in place to ensure orders are of high quality and meet strict safety standards, with the necessary due diligence undertaken on all government contracts."
'Worthless' certificates'Worthless' certificates
Another government contract the Good Law Project is seeking to challenge in the courts is a £32m deal with Crisp Websites Limited, trading as Pestfix, to supply isolation suits.Another government contract the Good Law Project is seeking to challenge in the courts is a £32m deal with Crisp Websites Limited, trading as Pestfix, to supply isolation suits.
In July, No 10 disclosed that none of the suits Pestfix supplied had yet been delivered into the NHS - and instead they were being stored in a Department of Health facility in Daventry awaiting tests.In July, No 10 disclosed that none of the suits Pestfix supplied had yet been delivered into the NHS - and instead they were being stored in a Department of Health facility in Daventry awaiting tests.
Now the BBC has discovered the pest control company has separately sold respirator masks to commercial clients using certificates from ECM, a test house in Italy which says it is not a notified body for PPE.Now the BBC has discovered the pest control company has separately sold respirator masks to commercial clients using certificates from ECM, a test house in Italy which says it is not a notified body for PPE.
The British Safety Industry Federation said some companies had been presenting so-called 'voluntary certificates of compliance' from ECM but they added these had "no value and no standing" in demonstrating an item of PPE complied with legislation.The British Safety Industry Federation said some companies had been presenting so-called 'voluntary certificates of compliance' from ECM but they added these had "no value and no standing" in demonstrating an item of PPE complied with legislation.
"In that respect it is a worthless document," Mr Murray told the BBC."In that respect it is a worthless document," Mr Murray told the BBC.
Pestfix told the BBC they "unreservedly apologise" for the compliance issue with certain PPE face masks they had supplied to commercial and private clients.Pestfix told the BBC they "unreservedly apologise" for the compliance issue with certain PPE face masks they had supplied to commercial and private clients.
"We are liaising with the relevant regulators and are conducting a thorough investigation, including contacting every affected customer," said the company's chief executive, Dan England. Dan England, the firm's chief executive, said it was conducting a "thorough investigation" as well as talking to regulators and affected customers.
The government said in its legal response to the Good law Project that Pestfix provided certificates confirming the suits conformed to the technical standards and they were approved accordingly.The government said in its legal response to the Good law Project that Pestfix provided certificates confirming the suits conformed to the technical standards and they were approved accordingly.
The government also previously revealed that some test kits, produced by Randox laboratories for NHS Test and Trace, may not have met its required safety standards and suspended their use in July.