Channel 4's Dispatches programme last night made clear how disastrous has been our government's management of the coronavirus crisis. Anthony Barnett laid out in his own lugubrious and effective style, just how much has gone wrong.
From failure to follow advice, to simple logic errors, to incomprehensible contracting, to dogmatic driven belief that the private sector could provide answers to this crisis that were clearly beyond their ability to deliver and which have endangered many on the way, the evidence was relayed. And having been involved in the making of some Dispatches in my time, I know the care that goes into their production.
Anthony Costello summarised the programme like this:
The revelations from C4 Dispatches about failings in test and trace by Randox, Serco, sub-contracted companies and the role played by Harding, Hancock, and the PM are breath-taking. It amounts to criminal negligence, pure and simple.
— Anthony Costello (@globalhlthtwit) November 16, 2020
I respect Anthony Costello but think that maybe more evidence is needed to make that claim.
But with regard to government procurement, the evidence is mounting. I noted this tweet and related article yesterday:
A massive operation to clear containers full of PPE from Felixstowe Port (1,000 in a week) is underway....to relocate them in former airfields.
“As fast as the containers were being sent out, more were arriving by seaâ€@HCSAprocurement @SmartTogether_1 https://t.co/JIYs0yvWun
— Rob Knott (@Procure4Health) November 16, 2020
The port of Felixstowe has been blocked by over-ordered, unused and quite possibly unusable PPE, much of it bought under contracts that remain outside public view. That there are mountains of it in containers left in fields for the want of any known use for it suggests that something has gone seriously wrong with procurement that does require the highest level of review, with an open mind on consequences, including prosecution if the purchasing was actually criminally negligent.
Will it happen? This government is intent on neutering the courts to prevent the possibility. Why on earth could that be? Is there something that they would rather we did not know for which they do not want to accept responsibility? The question has to be asked?
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https://twitter.com/NHSMillion/status/1328431573524488195
devastating take down for hankcock.
Indeed
I didn’t see the program, though it’s revelations don’t surprise me one bit. As with freeports, and Brexit, its all representative of the whole ethos of the politicians in this administration. A disdain for regulation or due process, a totally irrational belief in unregulated markets as the best way to do anything, and overweening arrogance.
In short, they are both corrupt and incompetent.
Stupid question, given the government we have, but couldn’t that PPE be distributed to schools, colleges and universities? The standards do not have to be as high, as not clinical locations. At the moment the education sector is ripping through their budgets in their attempts to make ‘covid secure’ (good example of double speak) workplaces. Money could be better spent on core activities.
The money has already been spent
Of course it could be shared….that is its purpose, after all
Let’s face it, the whole thing stinks.
When Andrew Lansley brought in the new health act and we started getting arguments about the Government’s liability to patients under the NHS, it appeared that they had side stepped the issue. My local MP sent me a legal opinion from a Tory barrister that Lansley’s Act had not altered that ultimate responsibility.
Obviously however, they hadn’t and all that remains now in my view is for the government to cover up an obligation that it could not get out of by limiting the information on what they have done.
Labour should be making the most of this BTW.