Matt Hancock’s ex-neighbour’s company under investigation by UK’s medicine regulator

Coronavirus - Sun Feb 21, 2021
Alex Bourne has denied being friends with Matt Hancock, pictured
PA
Luke O'Reilly22 February 2021

A company owned by Matt Hancock’s former neighbour, which won £30m worth of NHS Covid test tube contracts, is being investigated by the UK’s medicine regulator.

Former pub landlord Alex Bourne won the contracts despite having no experience producing medical devices.

Mr Bourne previously ran the Cock Inn near the Health Secretary’s former home in Thurlow.

While he has been photographed with his arm around the Health Secretary, he denies that they are friends. He told The Evening Standard that he has met Mr Hancock “less than 10 times”.

Mr Bourne’s company Hinpack made takeaway boxes before the pandemic began. However, it then won a contract to supply millions of Covid test tubes from its site in Cambridgeshire.

Coronavirus - Wed Feb 17, 2021
The company supplies millions of vials from its site in Cambridgeshire
PA

The company is now subject to a probe by the MHRA.

The Guardian has reported that the allegations concern hygiene and safety complaints. These complaints reportedly include that Hinpack’s production workers had no permanent toilets or access to running water for hand washing for a period at the start of the operation.

The workers are also accused of failing to follow strict hygiene protocols when entering inflatable “clean rooms” on the factory site, and of taking beaks without changing in and out of protective clothing properly.

Mr Bourne denied the allegations.

“We’re not in some sort of cowshed or something”, he said.

“I mean this is all purpose built buildings.”

FILE PHOTO: The spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in London
The vials are used in coronavirus tests
REUTERS

He said that portaloos set up outside the factory were for workmen who Hinpack did not want coming through the building.

“We’ve done nothing wrong with what we do. There’s quite a lot of regulation that we have to adhere to to do what we do”, he said.

He added that the site has had multiple fire risk inspections, as well as health and safety inspections.

Mr Bourne said that he has yet to be contacted about the investigation by the MHRA.

“We speak to the MHRA on a weekly basis as a company, and they haven’t mentioned anything”. he said.

Mr Bourne admitted that he had offered his services to Mr Hancock in a personal WhatsApp message prior to receiving the contract.

However, he denied that the message led to the contract. Instead, he said that the Health Secretary told him to apply via the Government’s website. Mr Hancock has previously denied having anything to do with the contract.

Mr Bourne said that he received death threats after the story first broke in December, and that he even had to move his family out of their home for a short period of time. He added that drones had been flown over Hinpack’s production site.

In a statement, the MHRA confirmed that they were investigating Mr Bourne’s company.

Graeme Tunbridge, director of devices at the MHRA told The Evening Standard: “We take all reports of non-compliance very seriously.

“We are currently investigating allegations about Hinpack and will take appropriate action as necessary. Patient safety is our top priority.”

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