£9.9 Billion Wasted While NHS Staff Were Told There Was No Money
For Immediate Release: 16/07/2026
The Workers of England Union (WEU) has today said that the findings of the Covid Inquiry demonstrate one of the greatest examples of public money being wasted in modern British history, while thousands of frontline NHS staff were risking their lives during the pandemic.
The Inquiry found that £9.9 billion worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) was ultimately written off because it was unused, unsuitable or out of date.
The Workers of England Union highlights that had this money instead been invested in NHS staff, the impact would have been significant. Based on the NHS England workforce of approximately 1.55 million employees, it would have equated to a one-off payment of around £6,400 per member of staff. Even when spread across the entire United Kingdom NHS workforce of approximately 2.07 million employees, it still represents around £4,800 for every NHS worker.
The WEU says that while these figures are illustrative rather than proposed pay awards, they demonstrate the extraordinary scale of the waste at a time when frontline workers were repeatedly told that meaningful pay rises were unaffordable.
Stephen Morris, General Secretary of the Workers of England Union, said:
"The Covid Inquiry exposes one of the greatest examples of public money being wasted in modern British history. While frontline NHS workers were risking their lives, working exhausting hours and being told there was no money for meaningful pay rises, billions of pounds were simply written off through poor planning and failed procurement.
Had this money been invested in the NHS workforce instead, it could have recognised the dedication of the very people who carried our health service through one of its most difficult times. Lessons must be learned, accountability must follow and this level of waste must never be repeated."
The Workers of England Union believes the Inquiry should also prompt a wider debate about government preparedness, financial accountability and ensuring that frontline workers are properly supported, protected and valued during future national emergencies.
For media enquiries, please contact Stephen Morris, General Secretary, Workers of England Union:
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Website: www.workersofengland.co.uk