"I’m losing the will to live, god help us all": despair of NHS procurement chief

Gowns for front-line staff were not included in the national pandemic stockpile of personal protective equipment, procurement chiefs have been told.

Trust procurement leads have raised concerns over dwindling gown supplies. Health Care Supply Association chief officer Alan Hoskins tweeted he could not order the products through NHS Supply Chain, even after escalating the matter to NHS England.

Mr Hoskins’ tweet on Sunday, which has since been deleted, said: “What a day, no gowns NHS Supply Chain. Rang every number escalated to NHS England, just got message back — no stock, can’t help, can send you a PPE pack. Losing the will to live, god help us all.”

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Source: HSJ, 30 March 2020