'Hand-to-mouth' supply of protective gowns as NHS staff face lack of equipment amid virus crisis

Medical staff are facing a shortage of gowns as they tackle coronavirus with the supply described as "hand-to-mouth", according to the chief executive of NHS Providers.

Chris Hopson on Monday said that amid the fight against Covid-19 the "majority of preparations have gone extremely well".

However, he raised gowns as a particular item which were not available to the required level.

“There is a range of personal protective equipment that needs to be delivered at the front line… nearly all of that material is flowing in the way that trusts would like," he told BBC Breakfast.

“The bit where there’s a particular problem was gowns, where we know that over the last 72 hours some trusts have run critically low on gowns.

“No trust, as far as I’m aware, has actually run out but some of the stocks are very very low.”

Mr Hopson said the NHS ordered “a whole load of stock”, which come from China, weeks ago.

However, delays have been caused by the product sometimes failing safety tests, while other batches have been mislabelled.

He said: “If everything had been flowing exactly as had been ordered and if all of the material had properly passed its safety test, there would not be an issue.

“This is all really hand-to-mouth in terms of gown delivery, and we need to get to a more sustainable supply.”

It comes as the Government faces a continued backlash over the supply of personal protective equipment, PPE, for NHS staff.

Home Secretary Priti Patel previously dodged a direct apology for the lack of equipment.

Asked about the issue on Saturday at a Downing Street press conference, she said: "I'm sorry if people feel that there have been failings. I will be very, very clear about that."

NHS staff have been warning of PPE shortages for weeks.

The Royal College of Nursing has issued guidance to say that staff should refuse to treat Covid-19 patients “as a last resort” if they are not given adequate equipment.

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