Matt Hancock, the former UK Health Secretary, has disclosed at the Covid inquiry that in the early months of the pandemic, the National Health Service (NHS) in England was dangerously close to exhausting its stock of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly gowns.

At one point, the supply was within six to seven hours of running out.

This revelation came during discussions led by Jacqueline Carey KC, the inquiry’s lead counsel, who challenged Hancock about the implications of such a shortage on healthcare workers.

While individual hospitals faced critical shortages, Hancock clarified that the nation as a whole never fully ran out of PPE.

He emphasized the need for better preparedness in future pandemics, suggesting that vaccinations should be mandatory for NHS and social care staff, and that masks should be worn in hospitals immediately.

Hancock noted the importance of maintaining an adequate stockpile, and acknowledged that during April and May 2020, PPE supplies were often alarmingly low.

By the pandemic's second wave, supply issues had improved.

The inquiry seeks to understand the challenges faced by the NHS during Covid-19 to ensure more effective responses in future health crises.