Story perspectives

High Court Orders PPE Medpro to Repay £122 Million

10/4/2025

Summary

Story summary

The High Court ordered PPE Medpro to repay £122 million for breaching a contract to supply sterile gowns during the pandemic.
Justice Cockerill found the gowns were not properly sterilized and unusable for the NHS.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged to recover the money, stating, "We want our money back," as calls to strip Baroness Michelle Mone's peerage grew.

History

Historical Context

In 2020, the UK government faced a severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to emergency contracts awarded without competitive bidding. PPE Medpro received a £122 million contract, but a court later ruled that the supplied gowns were improperly sterilized. This incident reflects ongoing accountability issues in pandemic procurement, reminiscent of controversies from the 2009 swine flu vaccine procurement.

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Story summary

The High Court ordered PPE Medpro to repay £122 million for breaching a contract to supply sterile gowns during the pandemic.
Justice Cockerill found the gowns were not properly sterilized and unusable for the NHS.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged to recover the money, stating, "We want our money back," as calls to strip Baroness Michelle Mone's peerage grew.

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