PPE including gowns and masks running out, admits UK government

400,000 gowns arriving in UK on Sunday, as unions warn frontline staff may walk out over shortages

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The government has accepted that some personal protective equipment (PPE) is in short supply and promised that a large consignment, including 400,000 gowns – , is due to arrive in the UK from Turkey on Sunday.

On Saturday, unions and professional bodies said that NHS staff may refuse to work if there was not enough PPE to ensure their safety, in response to new guidance from Public Health England (PHE), revealed by the Guardian on Friday, which instructs healthcare workers to reuse disposable PPE.

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