Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of the capability of hospitals, pharmacies and General Practitioners to stockpile medical supplies throughout an emergency or conflict involving the U
Answer
The Department’s approach to stockpiles of medical products is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/stockpiles-of-medical-products-held-by-dhsc/stockpiles-of-medical-products-held-by-the-department-of-health-and-social-care
Verdict: RED (20/100)
The reply points to a GOV.UK publication about the Department's own stockpiles of medical products. It does not say whether hospitals, pharmacies or GPs can stockpile in an emergency or conflict, so the question was only touched on and not answered directly. The response stays vague and gives no concrete assessment, so the person who asked would most likely need to follow up for a specific answer.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the Department's assessment or view of the capability of hospitals, pharmacies and General Practitioners to stockpile medical supplies throughout an emergency or conflict involving the UK? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply only points to a GOV.UK publication on the Department's own stockpiles of medical products and gives no substantive view on whether hospitals, pharmacies or GPs can stockpile in an emergency or conflict. It engages the right subject area but commits to no concrete assessment, so the item is only touched on. |