Overview
- The inquiry, which published its procurement report on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, concluded that about two-thirds of the £14.9bn spent on PPE—roughly £9.9bn to £10bn—was wasted through overbuying, unusable kit and poor stockpile management.
- Baroness Hallett condemned the high‑priority 'VIP' referral lane as a misguided process that embedded unfairness by favouring politically referred suppliers, while finding no evidence that ministers or officials were corrupt when making final award decisions.
- The report says pre‑pandemic stockpiles were in a perilous state and heavy reliance on overseas suppliers left the UK unable to compete, forcing some NHS and care staff to use makeshift protection such as bin bags and personal goggles.
- A chapter on Medpro was withheld because of an ongoing National Crime Agency criminal investigation and prior High Court rulings that ordered repayment; bereaved families and campaigners say the omission risks a perceived whitewash.
- Hallett set out more than 11 reforms including overhauling supply chains, treating healthcare equipment as a national asset, digitalising procurement and stockpile systems, and strengthening due diligence after the government estimated around £256m was lost to fraud during the PPE scramble.