IN ANOTHER example of how the coronavirus crisis has driven privatisation, Deloitte were given full charge of the drive-through Covid-19 testing programme: the government sees a medical emergency and turns to accountants and management consultants. Deloitte subcontracted much of the work to the likes of Sodexo and Mitie.

A new report reveals Deloitte also played a central role in the development of NHS Supply Chain, which has struggled so badly to provide PPE supplies to NHS workers in the pandemic.

Its involvement emerged in a report by University of Greenwich professor David Hall, co-published with the anti-privatisation group We Own It. Dr John Lister, both a health expert and redoubtable campaigner also co-wrote the report, which examines the history of the agency that buys and distributes most NHS “consumables,” including PPE. It’s already had some coverage in the Morning Star, but I wanted to look at some details.