Britain missed out on repeated opportunities to bulk-buy protective equipment for health workers through the European Union despite mounting concern over “critically low” supplies in the NHS.

It was reported last night that the government failed three times to secure extra supplies of masks, gowns and gloves as part of an EU deal at the end of February and in mid-March. Officials also failed to attend a meeting on March 25 to spell out future purchases through the bloc, it emerged.

The report came as NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts in England, said yesterday that some parts of the country had suffered a severe shortage of gowns over the Easter weekend, putting staff at risk.

Brooke Dennis, the owner of Make Town, has volunteered to sew scrubs for the NHS at her business in Hackney, London DAVID KLEIN/REUTERS

Chris Hopson, the organisation’s chief executive, said