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Health Secretary Matt Hancock during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (COVID-19)
AN ACQUAINTANCE and former neighbour of Health Secretary Matt Hancock has won a contract to produce millions of vials for Covid-19 tests despite having no experience in medical supplies.
Alex Bourne, who used to run a pub called the Cock Inn close to Mr Hancock’s former constituency home in Suffolk, said that he had initially offered his services several months ago by sending the Health Secretary a personal message on WhatsApp, it was revealed today.
His company, Hinpack, was at that time producing plastic cups and takeaway boxes for the catering industry. It is now supplying around two million medical-grade glass vials a week to the government via a distributor contracted by the NHS.
With more people dying each year and many spending their final days in institutions, researchers argue that wider access to palliative care could offer a more humane and cost-effective alternative, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
