The supply chains that are relied upon by health and social care providers are of extreme importance for both clinical and non-clinical supplies. The Government wrote to the sector on 30 December 2020 and re-emphasised the importance of social care providers allowing more time for non-clinical goods to arrive, with 72 hours being the suggested additional time that providers should anticipate having to wait. For all other clinical goods and PPE, arrangements for ordering stock should continue as usual.
Providers should be mindful of this when considering their regulatory responsibilities and how the CQC would perceive lack of availability of certain items.
