Confusion grows over huge order of NHS gowns from Turkey

Some were passed for use in health service but 170,000 await tests in Turkey

• Coronavirus – latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

Turkish officials and the company at the centre of the decision by the NHS to impound hundreds of thousands of protective gowns have claimed they are yet to receive a demand for a refund from the health service at the end of a day of confusion about an ill-fated order of 400,000 of the badly needed items of kit.

Their statements contradicted assurances made by Downing Street at lunchtime on Thursday that the UK was in negotiations to obtain refunds or replacements – and it gradually emerged that a majority of the gowns were still in process of being tested after some had failed UK safety standards.

Continue reading…