Revealed: value of UK pandemic stockpile fell by 40% in six years

[AtW]

“ UK government stockpiles containing protective equipment for healthcare workers in the event of a pandemic fell in value by almost 40% over the past six years, the Guardian has found.

Analysis of official financial data suggests £325m was wiped off the value of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) emergency stockpile, reducing it from £831m in 2013 under the Conservative-led coalition government to £506m by March last year.

The finding is likely to raise further questions for the health secretary, Matt Hancock, who faced criticism over the weekend after urging healthcare workers not to “overuse” personal protective equipment (PPE).

The revelation raises questions about why the value depreciated so quickly and how the fall related to stock-levels.”

Revealed: value of UK pandemic stockpile fell by 40% in six years | World news | The Guardian

[BR14]

oh, will you just STFU!!
twat.
miserable, whining, negative doomspreading feckwit.

[ladymuck]

oh, will you just STFU!!
twat.
miserable, whining, negative doomspreading feckwit.

[AtW]

oh, will you just STFU!!
twat.
miserable, whining, negative doomspreading feckwit.

If you can’t take it then go whee you belong - mumsnet

[scooterscot]

[CheeseSlice]

I heard that our stockpile is sized for pandemic flu, where the vaccine can generally be produced relatively quickly. Swine flu vaccine for example was available in the Autumn of 2009 after it broke out in Spring of the same year.

Coronavirus is the wildcard that will teach us a very important lesson. Think of how long your stash/stockpile/savings/warchest needs to last and then at least double it.

[AtW]

So they sized up for the easy option, at best - obviously to save some money in area few people will check at the time.

[LondonManc]

AtW thinks we should be scaled up to repel Hippo Aids, Squirrel Herpes and every other possible pandemic that may or may not occur. What a prick.

[AtW]

AtW thinks we should be scaled up to repel Hippo Aids, Squirrel Herpes and every other possible pandemic that may or may not occur. What a prick.

I think testing capability should be readily available for any of the detectable pathogens - like Germany got, and PPE for emergency plus local quickly deployable capability to make more in case of pandemic (when demand for such stuff will be through the roof).

Is it too much to expect this country to have as good healthcare as Germany, this isn’t 3rd world country, right?

[Old Greg]

If you can’t take it then go whee you belong - mumsnet

BR14 needs a trigger warning on threads like this.