THE MODULE considered the procurement and distribution of key healthcare-related equipment and supplies including personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and testing equipment.

Among the recommendations, the Inquiry called for:

• the establishment of trading alliances in advance of the next pandemic, to diversify overseas sources of raw materials and healthcare equipment;
• contractual arrangements with domestic and international suppliers of raw materials and healthcare equipment manufacturers which activate when a pandemic is declared;
• a robust plan to enable domestic manufacturers rapidly to retool and repurpose facilities for the production of healthcare equipment; and
• supporting investment for research and development into advanced manufacturing of healthcare equipment in the UK.

In terms of logistics provision, the Inquiry recommendations included, among others, that the pandemic stockpiles of PPE:

• retain stock that is better aligned with the range and severity of pandemic risks;
• maintain a minimum three-month supply of PPE for the entire health and social care system in the UK;
• retain close-to-zero tolerance for expired stock;
• maintain a simple and streamlined system of management and oversight; and
• are stored in a wide range of accessible locations.

Professor Manners-Bell commented: “I fully endorse the findings of the Inquiry. It will now be up to the UK government to implement these recommendations, a process which the Inquiry will continue to monitor. Doing so will substantially improve the UK’s preparedness and resilience in the event of another pandemic. It has been a privilege to be involved in such important proceedings and I am delighted that many of my recommendations have been taken on board.”

The final report of the fifth module of the Covid-19 Inquiry can be downloaded here.

Professor John Manners-Bell’s initial report, the result of an extensive year long research project, can be downloaded here.

Presentation

You can see Prof John Manners-Bell, chief executive, Ti Insight speak at the upcoming Tomorrow’s Warehouse Manchester event.

The presentation is on ‘From minimum wage to maximum automation’ and focuses on the impact of AI and technology on the logistics industry.

You can register FREE for Tomorrow’s Warehouse Manchester here.