UK Court Orders PPE Medpro to Repay £121.9m for Faulty Gowns
A UK High Court ruling has ordered PPE Medpro, a company linked to Baroness Michelle Mone, to repay £121.9m for supplying faulty surgical gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company, led by Baroness Mone's husband Doug Barrowman, was awarded a £200m contract in 2020, sparking controversy and investigations into the procurement process.
The court found that the gowns, totalling 25 million, did not meet the required sterility standards. PPE Medpro's counterclaim that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) should have advised them on compliance was dismissed. The government had sought an additional £8.6m for transport and storage costs, but this was also denied.
Baroness Mone, who recommended PPE Medpro to ministers, has accused the government of making her and her husband a 'poster couple for the PPE scandal'. She and Barrowman denied wrongdoing and did not give evidence at the trial. The company intended to appoint administrators ahead of the ruling, and negotiations over the repayment will now take place with them.
The ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing saga surrounding the procurement of PPE during the pandemic. The repayment of £121.9m will be a substantial financial blow to PPE Medpro, and the company's future remains uncertain. The government's investigation into the procurement process continues.
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