1.5bn unused PPE items in England have passed expiry date, says audit office

Report says health department has paid 737m for storage, with 3.6bn items considered unsuitable for frontline use

Some 1.5bn items of personal protective equipment (PPE) in storage in England have passed their expiry date, the public spending watchdog has revealed, as health officials are urging the government to get a grip" on stocks and contracts.

More than 3.6bn PPE items are being stored by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) because it considers them unsuitable for frontline services, accounting for 11% of all PPE it has received, the National Audit Office (NAO) said after its investigation into the management of PPE contracts.