The public sector’s contempt for business has led to shortages of PPE
sir – Having worked in both the public and private sectors, I have seen the lofty contempt in which the latter is held by the former.
In the present conditions, this contempt – and its inappropriateness – is becoming manifestly clear. Why else is Public Health England ignoring the private-sector firms that are knocking on its door to offer supplies of PPE to protect our NHS teams?
The inefficiency of Public Health England shows that the civil service is not fit for purpose in a crisis, and whereas in business an employee putting up such a performance would soon be removed, in the public sector individual accountability appears non-existent.
H M Phillips
Newmarket, Suffolk
sir – Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, should not be wasting his time criticising the Government over the supply of PPE (report, April 20). The members of his organisation should be fully occupied with contacting British manufacturers and getting them to make reusable gowns and masks to the specifications required.
Andrew Rixon
Hertford
sir – My late father was a surgical supplier and medical wholesaler. An element of his business relied upon recycling, repair and refurbishment.
In the Fifties and Sixties, laundering and sterilisation were an essential part of clinical and surgical administration. In the Seventies, imports of cheaper, poorer-quality surgical equipment and protective clothing coincided with the relaxing of controls on health budgets. A throwaway approach to protection was quickly adopted. The idea that garments, masks and equipment should be washable and made sterile was abandoned.
Perhaps it is time to consider British production of more resilient, recyclable PPE. As the NHS has consumed more than 1,000 items of PPE per employee over the past few weeks, it may even prove economically worthwhile.
Roy Wilde
Barford St Martin, Wiltshire
sir – You report (April 18) that Deloitte has been hired to order PPE. Was there nobody in the Department of Health or Public Health England who was capable of doing this? Did no one have a list of suppliers and their contact details? Dealing through Deloitte just penalises the taxpayer more.
Ian Strachan
Blairgowrie, Perthshire
sir – I am appalled by the number of healthcare personnel who wear face masks with their noses uncovered, thereby rendering them useless.
One doctor was interviewed on television complaining that he found it difficult to breathe while wearing his. This was not surprising, as he had it on upside-down with the non-return valve tucked under his chin.
Dr John Hardie
Ashford, Kent