Northern Ireland

Unused PPE supplied to NHS by Co Antrim sweet wholesaler sold on to public at 99.5 per cent loss

Clandeboye Agencies arranged the shipment of millions of items known as thumb-looped gowns or aprons shipped from a factory in Cambodia to an NHS warehouse in England
Clandeboye Agencies arranged the shipment of millions of items known as thumb-looped gowns or aprons shipped from a factory in Cambodia to an NHS warehouse in England Clandeboye Agencies arranged the shipment of millions of items known as thumb-looped gowns or aprons shipped from a factory in Cambodia to an NHS warehouse in England

UNUSED personal protective equipment (PPE) supplied to the NHS by a Co Antrim sweet wholesaler "seemingly without advertising or competitive tendering process" has been sold on to the public at a 99.5 per cent loss.

The Irish News revealed in May 2020 that legal proceedings had been launched against the UK government over the awarding of £108 million PPE contracts Clandeboye Agencies Limited.

The contracts were awarded by London's Department of Health to the business, which is based at Antrim's Rathenraw Industrial Estate, on April 28 and May 18 last year - at the height of the pandemic.

Clandeboye Agencies, registered at Companies House as dealing in "wholesale of sugar, chocolate and sugar confectionery", was awarded £108m in PPE contracts.

It was identified in court as being part of a 'VIP lane' for firms with political connections seeking contracts.

Last night BBC NI's Spotlight programme revealed a box of the PPE worth £1,000 is now being sold online for just £5.

Clandeboye Agencies said it delivered what was ordered and that its pricing was competitive and lower than the average price per gown and the department said the award followed "proper due diligence".

Clandeboye Agencies arranged the shipment of millions of items known as thumb-looped gowns or aprons shipped from a factory in Cambodia to an NHS warehouse in England between May and July 2020.

The company said no concerns were raised about the gowns it supplied and its pricing was lower than the average price per gown and less than half the cost of the most expensive offered to government.

However, boxes of the equipment are now being sold online between £5 and £125 having not been used by the health service.

The programme found the cheapest sold by a Stockport auction house in March, with the buyer getting 250 items for £5.

The department spent £4.20 per single item less than a year earlier.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner told Spotlight "billions of pounds have been wasted".

The programme is available on iPlayer.