British army and NHS squabble over PPE logistics
The much lauded partnership between the British army and the National Health Service (NHS) appears to be breaking down after the army accusing the health service of incompetence and mismanagement.
The Times newspaper’s defense editor quotes a “senior” army source dismissing NHS logistics at the height of the coronavirus outbreak as “appalling”.
One senior army source branded NHS logistics “appalling”, leading variously to PPE oversupplies/shortages.
— Lucy Fisher (@LOS_Fisher) April 22, 2020
Added: “We know how knackered their systems are, but we’ve been surprised we’ve not been called in to help more, and we’ve been surprised by their failure to ration [kit].”
The spat between the army and the NHS is unfolding against the backdrop of a severe shortage of personal protection equipment (PPE).
Britain’s medical professionals have consistently accused the Department of Health, and specifically health secretary Matt Hancock, of not ensuring an adequate supply of PPE to the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
In recent days Britain has resorted to desperate measures to at least partially address the PPE shortage, primarily by importing safety equipment from abroad.
The UK has been buying PPE from Turkey but in a fresh blow to the country’s procurement efforts, a commercial supplier in Turkey has been reported to not have enough stock to fulfill a British order for 84 tonnes of PPE.
TURKEY PPE UPDATE: Britain’s attempt to buy 84 tonnes of #PPE for its medics from a firm in Turkey - @RobertJenrick said supplies would arrive last Sunday - hit trouble because the supplier had insufficient stock, Turkish officials have said (this thread is with @Guldenay007) 1/
— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) April 22, 2020
For its part, the British military – and especially the army – have been involved in the management of the coronavirus crisis from the outset, mostly in a logistics capacity, and specifically to deliver PPE to the NHS frontlines.
However, under the guidelines set down by Operation Rescript, the British military can potentially intervene forcefully during the crisis, particularly under conditions where law and order begins to break down.
Meanwhile, senior Tory leaders and government officials have been scrambling to deny or downplay the growing rift between the army and the NHS over the handling of the coronavirus crisis.
The Chair of the House of Commons Defense Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood, has sung the NHS’s praises before stating that its logistics could be improved by the army.
Gvt should consider appointing a military specialist as logistics tsar, says @Tobias_Ellwood, chairman of Commons defence cmtte.
— Lucy Fisher (@LOS_Fisher) April 22, 2020
He stressed "tremendous sacrifice and efforts" of NHS, but said its logistics could be enhanced by military who are "extremely enthusiastic to assist" pic.twitter.com/PxeWGntfiv
Furthermore, defense secretary, Ben Wallace, has denied a rift between the army and the NHS and claims the armed services are “enjoying and proud” to be serving alongside the NHS.
Wallace: “At a time of national crisis it is when we see our armed forces at their best”
— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) April 22, 2020
He tries to brush off criticism (h/t @LOS_Fisher) by military of @NHSuk handling of #PPE distribution, saying armed forces are “enjoying and proud“ to be serving alongside NHS colleagues...
Despite Ellwood’s and Wallaces’s reassurances, concern is likely to continue to mount over the management deficit at the heart of the UK’s battle against COVID-19.
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