Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Summary

A request was made to the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care for details on PPE spending, quantities, usage, and quality standards since the start of 2020. The authority disclosed the total cost, itemized quantities purchased and remaining, and confirmed that one delivery was rejected for not meeting standards.

Key Facts

• The total cost of PPE purchased by the Department of Health and Social Care between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, was £7,871,705 excluding VAT.
• PPE purchased for pandemic response is not recorded separately from business-as-usual purchases.
• The Department does not hold details on PPE purchased by other Government Departments, Boards, or Offices.
• One delivery of PPE did not meet required standards and was returned before an invoice was submitted.
• The Department maintains an operational position of keeping three months of stock at one point in time.

Data Disclosed

• £7,871,705
• 1st January 2020
• 31st December 2020
• 1,677,560 Aprons
• 2,808,794 Gloves
• 332,126 Gowns
• 4,331,920 Masks
• 360,557 Visors
• 889,840 Aprons used
• 1,756,594 Gloves used
• 16,188 Gowns used
• 815,181 Masks used
• 43,947 Visors used
• 787,720 Aprons remaining
• 1,052,200 Gloves remaining
• 315,938 Gowns remaining
• 3,516,739 Masks remaining
• 316,610 Visors remaining
• 2021-01-25
• 2020-12-29

Original Request

Question 1: What was the total cost for PPE bought by the government since the start of 2020? Question 2: How much PPE was bought as a result of the pandemic? Question 3: How much of this PPE was used, how much is left and how much has not been used? Question 4: How much of this PPE did not meet the required standards? And has the government been able to recoup any of this money?

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

Interim Chief Executive: Kathryn Magson Freedom of Information Team Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3QA

(01624) 642621 dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 1615973 25th January 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 29th December 2020 and states:

“Question 1: What was the total cost for PPE bought by the government since the start of 2020? Question 2: How much PPE was bought as a result of the pandemic? Question 3: How much of this PPE was used, how much is left and how much has not been used? Question 4: How much of this PPE did not meet the required standards? And has the government been able to recoup any of this money?” Our Response: Question 1: What was the total cost for PPE bought by the government since the start of 2020? The total cost of PPE bought by the Department of Health and Social Care between the 1st January 2020 and the 31st December 2020 was £7,871,705 excluding VAT. It should be noted that the PPE was purchased for the whole of the Health and Care system e.g. care homes, nursing homes, primary care etc. The Department’s operational position is to keep three months of stock in place at one point in time.

PPE items purchased for pandemic response purposes are not recorded separately from PPE purchased for business as usual purposes. Therefore the cost figure in this response is for the total of all PPE, both pandemic response and business as usual, purchased by the Department of Health and Social Care.
Please note that this figure is for PPE bought by the Department of Health and Social Care only. The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the detail of any PPE items purchased by other Government Departments, Boards or Offices.
Question 2: How much PPE was bought as a result of the pandemic? PPE Quantity Note1: Some of the items listed above were purchased prior Aprons 1,677,560 to the start of 2020 & therefore the cost is not reflected in Gloves 2,808,794 the answer to Question 1 above. Gowns 332,126 Note 2: PPE items purchased for pandemic response Masks 4,331,920 purposes are not recorded separately from PPE purchased Visors 360,557 for business as usual purposes. Therefore the figures in this response are a total of all PPE, both pandemic response and business as usual. Question 3: How much of this PPE was used, how much is left and how much has not been used? Type of PPE used Quantity of PPE used How much is left? Quantity remaining How much has not been used? Quantity available Aprons 889,840 Aprons 787,720 Aprons 787,720 Gloves 1,756,594 Gloves 1,052,200 Gloves 1,052,200 Gowns 16,188 Gowns 315,938 Gowns 315,938 Masks 815,181 Masks 3,516,739 Masks 3,516,739 Visors 43,947 Visors 316,610 Visors 316,610 Question 4: How much of this PPE did not meet the required standards? And has the government been able to recoup any of this money? All the PPE was scrutinised for the correct CE marks (conforms to health, safety and environmental standards for products sold within the European Economic Area) relevant standards and certification prior to purchase. Where possible, samples were requested and tested prior to purchase. One delivery did not meet our standards, the company was questioned and agreed to take back the delivery and therefore an invoice was not submitted. Please quote the reference number 1615973 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely