Woman, 35, who stockpiled £2,500 of masks, gloves and face shields refuses to donate any to the NHS as they ‘should have been more prepared’
- Becca Brown, from Plymouth, stockpiled masks, gloves, face shields and food
- She spent more than £2,500 on her ‘PPE kit’ and went £700 into debt to afford it
- Ms Brown said she won’t donate to the NHS or charities despite large collection
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A woman who stockpiled more than £2,500 worth of masks, gloves and face shields has said she won’t donate any to the NHS as they ‘should have been more prepared’.
Becca Brown, 35, from Plymouth, shelled out thousands for PPE as NHS trusts and care homes across the UK battled to the secure equipment needed by medics to treat coronavirus patients.
The admin assistant has spent around £200 on surgical masks, £250 on hand sanitiser and hundreds on coveralls and face shields since the coronavirus pandemic began to rapidly spread across Britain last month.
She also spent £600 on food including UHT milk and canned goods, alongside purchasing dozens of packets of paracetamol, throat sprays and medicine.
Pictured: Medics wear PPE as they test a key worker for coronavirus at a drive-in testing facility at the Chessington World of Adventures Resort in Greater London
Ms Brown told the Sun she began the stockpile because she is caring for her elderly aunt outside of Portsmouth and doesn’t want to make ‘unnecessary trips’ to the shops.
But her haul, for which she used savings and a credit card, has landed her £700 in debt – despite her selling on some items for five times their original price.
Ms Brown has also insisted she won’t donate any of the stash she keeps ‘under lock and key’ to NHS workers, a decision she said has alienated some of her friends.
‘The few friends I have shown it too are stunned at the amount of kit I have got and have told me I should donate some to the NHS which is running short,’ she said. ‘They’re shocked when I’ve said, “I am sorry I just won’t do that”.
‘It’s not my job to ensure the NHS have proper protective personal equipment. That’s the government’s job.’
Becca Brown (not pictured) shelled out thousands for PPE as NHS trusts and care homes across the UK battle to the secure equipment needed by medics to treat coronavirus patients
Pictured: Two medics wearing face shields, surgical masks, gloves and plastic aprons test key workers for coronavirus
She added that she plans to use some of her extensive ‘PPE kit’ for an art exhibition.
‘I need my PPE kit to protect myself and for my art exhibition and won’t donate it to the NHS,’ she said. ‘I make absolutely no apology because as an artist I have to stand by my work and my right to buy what I want.’
Ms Brown went on to insist she ‘doesn’t agree’ with allegations she is ‘selfish’ as ‘the fact that the NHS doesn’t have enough is not my fault – that’s the fault of the government.’
Her comments come after a BBC documentary last night claimed ministers counted every glove individually instead of in pairs to boast of delivering one billion bits of PPE to NHS staff frontline in their fight against the coronavirus.
Pictured: A Boots pharmacy employee wears a face shield whilst working in an open store
The Panorama investigation said Number 10 had failed to procure enough protective equipment, such as masks, gowns and visors.
It also accused ministers of counting 547million gloves individually, instead of as 273.5million pairs, to fiddle PPE numbers.
The one billion figure also included items which are not considered PPE, including millions of cleaning products, waste bags, detergents and paper towels.
Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan also called the PPE scandal unveiled by Panorama a ‘national disgrace’ and accused Safeguarding minister Victoria Atkins of laughing when he was interviewing her.