Public Health England accused of being ‘rabbits in the headlights’ and ‘not fit for purpose’ when coronavirus crisis hit

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HEALTH chiefs tasked with planning for a pandemic were last night accused of being like “rabbits in the headlights” when it hit.

Prof Martin Green, Britain’s leading care home chief, said Public Health England had been too slow to respond to coronavirus and “was not fit for purpose” in a crisis.

Prof Martin Green has said Public Health England had been too slow to respond to coronavirus

The care boss blamed the quango for wasting vital supplies of personal protective equipment leaading to a critical shortage.

He said unclear guidance from PHE had led healthcare staff to “err on the side of caution” and wear masks and gowns when they didn’t need them.

Prof Green said: “Some agencies and quangos around government have really been nimble and able to respond.

“And some have been like rabbits in the headlights because their processes and their cultures are not fit for purpose when you have to make instant decisions.

“We need to take a long hard look as to whether or not they’re useful, needed or delivering what we actually need in a crisis.

“And then from that, do we need them at all into the future?”