The Department of Health rejected medical advice about providing NHS staff with certain protective equipment during an influenza pandemic because stockpiling it would be too expensive, the Guardian can reveal.
Documents show officials working under the former health secretary Jeremy Hunt told medical advisers three years ago to "reconsider" a formal recommendation that eye protection should be provided to all healthcare professionals who have close contact with pandemic influenza patients.
The expert advice was watered down after an "economic assessment" found a recommendation about providing visors or safety glasses to all hospital, ambulance and social care staff who have close contact with pandemic influenza patients would "substantially increase" the costs of stockpiling.
The documents may help explain a shortage of protective gear in the NHS that is hampering efforts to manage the Covid-19 virus pandemic.
