We cannot hit the required PPE procurement through the usual methods, so pivot to add more products. How do we do this? Mobilize the Great British public.
- Get a small team together with a clear leader (MOD; BBC; Royal Mail, a bank) and the backing of the Cabinet;
- Publish all the designs and specifications for PPE online;
- Set up a receiving station such as MOD Donnington with a testing station;
- Get the Great British Sewing Bee to create a specialist programme to make examples of the product;
- Open the material shops on a short term basis to supply qualifying material;
- Ask the British public with a sewing machine to make a product;
- Print off a submission form from the web and include it with the goods;
- Post to a Freepost address at the receiving station;
- Test the goods, those accepted can be stored at MOD site chosen;
- Put accepted goods through sterilization;
- When sufficient sterilised goods ready, make into loads for appropriate health care settings, to be delivered by the MOD;
- For all product accepted, pay a standard payment which you announce at the start (upper quartile of the last tendered price would be fair) with an option to donate the cash to the NHS Charities;
- Bank organizes the payments (from a Government-funded account) as they are used to processing small amounts (the existing government system is too complex and this is a short term one-off activity);
- All product rejected return at Government’s cost with thanks and the reason so that they can correct and resubmit;
Relatively quick and simple to do and all products irrespective of colors patterns etc. would be gratefully received by front-line staff. Cost is not the driver here, it is getting the right kit to the front line and lots of it.