Virus-hit hospitals are in danger of running out of lifesaving protective kit within hours. A national alert was issued to all 217 NHS trusts tonight after rattled Health Secretary Matt Hancock appeared unable to guarantee supply.
And asked when social care staff on the front line will get the PPE he pledged this week, he could only muster: “I would love to be able to wave a magic wand and have PPE fall from the sky in large quantities.” A British Medical Association poll of 6,000 doctors carrying out high-risk treatments today reveals that half report shortages of gowns or no supply at all, and NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said “it is clear some trusts will run out of fully fluid-repellent gowns this weekend”.