Hull safety giant Arco has welcomed the opportunity to meet with government health officials as lessons are learned from the PPE procurement crisis.
The Covid pandemic saw frontline health staff clamouring for goods sat in the company’s huge warehouse – with the long-established firm unable to support those most in need.
It has now welcomed a report published by the Public Accounts Committee, which has taken on board several recommendations made last year, as Whitehall representatives will also come face-to-face with those leading the family business.
Thomas Martin, chairman, said: “From the outset, we were both disappointed with the inadequacies of the procurement system and deeply concerned by some of the unnecessary mistakes made across the UK through a lack of experience of procuring the PPE needed. “This is something the Government has acknowledged, and has been reflected in media coverage, through the National Audit Office report, and now through the findings and recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee.
“We are pleased that many of the conclusions made by the Public Accounts Committee support those Arco reached when we commissioned our position paper last summer, to look at the lessons that need to be learned from the pandemic.
“As an established safety business that has provided critical support in the international Sars, swine flu and Ebola crises, we feel it’s our duty to report on our experiences and to support the Government in continuing to help deal with the pandemic by sharing our expertise. We are grateful for the invitation we have received from the Minister to build on the dialogue with the Department of Health and Social Care, and look forward to contributing our resources to ensure that the Committee’s recommendations are acted upon so the nation can be better prepared for future emergencies.
“The UK leads the world in health and safety and we are committed to ensuring that the leading role we play in keeping people safe is not compromised.”
With over 135 years of safety experience, its own UKAS-accredited product assurance lab and a 400,000 sqft National Distribution Centre, Hull-based Arco has been at the forefront of the most significant recent global emergencies.
When the Covid-19 pandemic was declared in the UK, the company played a key role in the response, navigating the global supply chain restrictions that led to an international shortage of certain types of PPE by chartering its own planes.
Arco’s position paper was released in December.
Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy raised it in a Westminster Hall debate on the matter, sharing the recommendations. Following the session, she wrote to the Cabinet Office parliamentary secretary, Julia Lopez MP, urging the Government to give the Arco report and its findings proper consideration.
Ms Lopez has replied. She said: “We very much welcome the feedback that Arco has provided. My officials have sent a comprehensive response to the letter from Arco and will be following up with a meeting to follow up directly with Arco to ensure that their thoughts have been taken on board. I would like to take the opportunity to reassure you of the great strides we have made to take us to this point, including already undertaking a number of the recommendations that Arco have proposed in their paper.”
Arco and the Public Accounts Committee report supported the most critical recommendations, including:
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The failures of the procurement portal at sifting credible and genuine offers of PPE from reputable suppliers, from those offered by dubious sources and the need to improve this for future emergencies and pandemics
Mr Martin said the report also recognises that hundreds of millions of pounds has been wasted on poor quality PPE that cannot be used for the intended purpose and recommends analysis and reporting of the extent of this failing.
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“Arco would urge that this is taken further to ensure this cannot happen again and recommends that the Government should consult on whether PPE suppliers should be formally registered to be allowed to supply Category II and III products,” he said.
“Registration would ensure that a supplier is capable of providing compliant product, while market surveillance by an empowered Office for Product Safety and Standards would ensure suppliers live up to these commitments.”
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