Government seeking action over impounded gowns
THE GOVERNMENT is seeking a replacement or refund for the 400,000 medical gowns from Turkey that were impounded after being deemed not good enough for use within the NHS.
The shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE), which had to be flown in by the RAF last month after delivery was delayed, has been stored in a warehouse after falling short of UK standards.
The items had been promised by Ministers to frontline NHS staff in a bid to protect them from coronavirus when treating patients.
But Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis admitted that the products turned out to “not be of the quality that we feel is good enough for our frontline staff ”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman confirmed yesterday that the UK wanted to be compensated following the decision to impound the goods.
“An initial deposit was paid and the NHS is in discussions with the supplier over whether replacement gowns can be manufactured to meet our standards.
UNSUITABLE: The shipment of medical gowns from Turkey has been stored in a warehouse after failing to meet UK standards.
If this is not possible a refund will be sought,” said the Downing Street spokesman.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has been approached for comment regarding how much the deposit was after Number 10 declined to disclose what was paid.
The decision to impound the imported goods is another blow in what has proved an embarrassing episode for the Government and its efforts to procure PPE.
The shipment had been dubbed “Air Jenrick” after Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick
promised a “very significant additional shipment” of PPE from Turkey on April 18, saying it would arrive the next day. Despite Downing Street’s claims, the shipment was delayed by a number of days and the RAF had to be mobilised to bring the cargo to Britain, arriving at RAF Brize Norton on April 22.
But more than two weeks after their arrival, it has now been confirmed that the gowns do not meet UK standards. Issues over the supply of protective equipment have plagued the Government throughout the pandemic.