Subject:

Update on provision of Personal Protective Equipment – DRAFT 15/6/20

Date of Meeting:

9 July 2020

Report of:

Executive Director for Health & Adult Social Care 

Contact Officer:

Name:

Michelle Jenkins/Rima Desai 

Tel: 07795 336271/07825387322

 

 

Email:

michelle.jenkins@brighton-hove.gov.uk, rima.desai@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Ward(s) affected:

(All Wards);

 

REFERRED FOR INFORMATION

 

FOR GENERAL RELEASE

 

 

1.         PURPOSE OF REPORT AND POLICY CONTEXT

 

1.1         The Council continues to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across a range of council services and in addition also supports provider/partner organisations and individuals who are unable to procure their own PPE. This is vital in the City’s response to COVID-19. The supply of PPE comes from the Local Resilience Forum and council’s own procured stock.

 

1.2         The P&R Committee approved the following recommendations at their meeting on 27th May 2020.

 

 

 

1.3         This update report paper provides the latest position in relation to the provision of PPE.

 

2.         RECOMMENDATIONS:    

 

2.1         To note the current estimated monthly council expenditure on PPE as outlined in section 3.2 and approach to purchasing and distribution of PPE.

 

 

3.            CONTEXT/ BACKGROUND INFORMATION

 

3.1         PPE provision between 6th April 20 to 5th June 20

 

BHCC continues to provide PPE in emergency and on short term basis to the care sector, childcare setting, education setting and other commissioned and partner organisations and to individuals providing care.

 

Category

Number of requests

%

BHCC Staff

267

26%

Care Sector

460

46%

Childcare

47

5%

Other Commissioned or Partner

143

14%

Education

27

3%

Personal Assistant

64

6%

Grand Total

1008

 

 

Category

Number of PPE items

%

BHCC Staff

338,898

35%

Care Sector

460,655

47%

Childcare

44,827

5%

Other Commissioned or Partner

99,489

10%

Education

7,961

1%

Personal Assistant

22,241

2%

Grand Total

974,071

 

 

3.2     Current costs to Council

·         The current PPE costs are as per table 1 below. This has reduced from £624k reported to the P&R Committee in May 2020 to £272k. Please note this is subject to further changes based on any adjustments to the demand and supply context. We have been able to adjust the demand projections based on improved data that we now hold which we didn’t have in the initial stages. Our grip on management information allows us to adjust projections on a weekly basis.

 

·         Supply context:

 

o   Feedback from our procurement team is that the supply market is becoming less challenging and is responding well to the demand. The reduction in some of the unit prices evidences this. Some items such as hand sanitizers are now easily available in super markets.

 

o   We are there to assist commissioned/partner organisations and individuals in emergency and on a short-term basis so it is likely that demand will reduce as the supply market continues to improve.

 

 

 

·         Demand context:

 

o   As per section 3.1 above, a significant proportion of demand is from the care sector. The Portal (previously referred to as Clipper service) has gone live in Sussex as of 8th June. It was initially projected to go live in April 20. To start with this is for small care providers and is gradually expected to support all CQC registered providers. There is a limit to the number of items that can be requested from the Portal. Also, the Portal is only offering limited items currently. It is unclear whether the Local Authorities will remain responsible for supporting care sector for any requests that the Portal is unable to support. The Portal is expected to reduce care sector reliance on BHCC. We will provide a further update on Portal at the future P&R meeting as this information starts to become available e.g. number of organisations seeking support from the Portal.

 

o   The child care setting and school setting were provided with a starter’s pack as needed. They are aware that in emergency they are able to seek support from BHCC on a short-term basis.

 

o   Any changes to Government guidance may result in further changes to demand for PPE which we will continue to closely monitor.

 

Table 1

Calculated on 09/06/2020

 

 

 

 

 

Item

Quantity

Unit Cost (£)

Total Cost (£)

Gloves

320,000

0.12

38,400.00

Aprons

140,000

0.06

8,400.00

Clinical Waste Bags

12,000

0.09

1,080.00

Eye Protection

20,000

1.95

39,000.00

FFP3

4,000

12.32

49,280.00

Type IIR Face Masks

160,000

0.56

89,600.00

Hand Sanitiser (50ml)

6,000

1.70

10,200.00

Hand Sanitiser (100ml)

4,000

2.20

8,800.00

Hand Soap

2,000

1.20

2,400.00

Surface Wipes (200 per pack)

2,800

8.95

25,060.00

Full Length Gowns

N/A

N/A

N/A

 

TOTAL

272,220.00

 

 

 

 

 

Table 2

Calculated on 13/05/2020

 

 

 

 

 

Item

Quantity

Unit Cost (£)

Total Cost (£)

Gloves

480,000

0.09

43,200.00

Aprons

200,000

0.10

20,000.00

Clinical Waste Bags

40,000

0.11

4,400.00

Eye Protection

40,000

2.00

80,000.00

FFP2/3

8,000

7.00

56,000.00

Type IIR Face Masks

200,000

1.00

200,000.00

Hand Sanitiser (50ml)

4,000

2.20

8,800.00

Hand Sanitiser (100ml)

4,000

3.15

12,600.00

Hand Soap

8,000

3.50

28,000.00

Surface Wipes

8,000

13.95

111,600.00

Full Length Gowns

20,000

3.00

60,000.00

 

TOTAL

624,600.00

 

4          ANALYSIS & CONSIDERATION OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

4.1       An option of continuing service delivery with reduced PPE would create risk regarding infection control and would be dismissed on Health & Safety grounds. There are no other reliable sources of PPE currently through government or local sources.

5          COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CONSULTATION

 

5.1       The PPE team have worked jointly with the Equalities & Third Sector team to promote the availability of PPE in emergency on a short term basis to Voluntary & Community sector organisations in the city.

 

6          CONCLUSION

 

6.1       Given the uncertainty of the demand which changes on a daily basis and changes national supply, the council need to continue to procure its own PPE to ensure no service disruption because of the lack of PPE.

 

7          FINANCIAL & OTHER IMPLICATIONS:

 

Financial Implications:

 

7.1       There are no direct financial implications arising from the recommendations of this report. The council has committed approx. £1.8m to date to maintain the supply of PPE and meeting anticipated demand in the short term. The estimated future monthly cost has been revised down from £0.624m to £0.272m through a combination of reduced quantities and reduced prices. These estimates will change depending on changes in demand as council services restart, and any further government or Public Health announcements that change requirements. The council has been awarded £16.2m COVID-19 Emergency Response Funds by government to meet emergency expenses.  However, the TBM 2 report elsewhere on this agenda highlights the significant full year impact of increased costs, including ongoing PPE requirements, and reduced income and this funding only covers these financial pressures in part.

            Finance Officer Consulted:       James Hengeveld               Date: 15/6/20

Legal Implications:

 

7.2       The procurement of PPE as set out in the report are in accordance with the Council’s responsibilities under the Coronavirus Act, Regulations and National Guidance. The urgent procurement of PPE may require agreement to waive Contract Standing Orders and legal and procurement officer advice will be required in relation to these procurements.

                                                                   

            Lawyer Consulted:                     Elizabeth Culbert                 Date: 15/06/20

 

            Equalities Implications:

 

7.3      Community Hub colleagues have offered to provide telephone support to individuals needing PPE but don’t have digital access. The PPE team will also request managers to feedback on any equalities implications which could then be used to inform future procurement and distribution process e.g. PPE size unsuitable for any specific staff group.

 

            Sustainability Implications:

 

7.4       We are combining orders wherever possible for multiple weeks to reduce the number of deliveries/collections needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

 

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