Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, what steps he is taking to ensure NHS staff have adequate supplies of protective equipment.

It is the Government’s priority that the National Health Service has appropriate equipment to respond to COVID-19, and the Department are working closely with NHS England and the devolved administrations to ensure this.

The United Kingdom maintains stockpiles of protective equipment for healthcare staff who may come into contact with patients with the virus.

These stocks are being monitored daily, with additional stocks being ordered where necessary.