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A Tory Cabinet minister has said he is sorry "that people feel" key workers do not have enough life-saving protective equipment.

Alok Sharma today stopped short of a full apology as the government faced a mounting backlash over NHS staff and care workers being put at risk.

Asked by Sky News if he would apologise, the Business Secretary did not do so. Instead he said sorry for "the loss of any life".

But he was then confronted again by the BBC over care workers who have had to wear bags over their faces for the lack of surgical masks.

He then told the Andrew Marr Show: "I’m incredibly sorry that people feel they are not able to get this equipment."

(Image: Sky)

Mr Sharma's phrasing matches that used yesterday by Home Secretary Priti Patel - who said: "I'm sorry if people feel that there have been failings."

Labour accused ministers of a "half-hearted" apology and leader Sir Keir Starmer today said the government should apologise properly.

He told Sky News: "I think it would be smart of the government to acknowledge that their ambition... isn’t being matched and probably just to apologise for that and get on with it."

He added: “I want the government to get this right. I want to support the government to get this right. But we need to point out the difference between what they’re saying and the position on the front line so that it can be fixed.

“Key workers on the front line are taking risks and they’re entitled to the protection that they need.”

(Image: Getty Images)

Union UNISON says staff have resorted to buying their own equipment after being sent masks past their expiry date.

General secretary Dave Prentis said: “No-one doubts the pressures the government is under. But the time for excuses has passed.

“Ministers have been saying for weeks that the PPE situation is in hand. That there’s enough to go around and it’s just a matter of logistics. But it isn’t good enough.

“NHS, care and other key workers are falling ill in huge numbers. Some have already died – including nurses, doctors, care workers, healthcare assistants and porters. Staff fear for their own health, that of their families and those they care for and look after."

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Cabinet minister Mr Sharma accepted "there has been a big challenge around this" and there is "clearly a need for more gowns".

He added: "I accept there has been a challenge but we are in unprecedented times.

"There is an international demand for PPE (personal protective equipment) and that does have an impact in terms of supply.

"I’m incredibly sorry that people feel they are not able to get this equipment.

"But that’s why we’ve set up a 24/7 hotline so people with the NHS and social care settings can get that equipment.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced a "three-strand" plan on Friday to ensure every health worker who needs it can get PPE.

Mr Hancock said that since the start of the outbreak there have been more than 742 million pieces of PPE delivered to the frontline.

That includes 161 million masks, 127 million aprons, a million gowns and 345 million pairs of gloves, he said.

But he faced a backlash for warning NHS staff not to over-use the kit as a part of his plan.

Desperate medics have told the Mirror they are cutting up hospital curtains to make gowns and using bits of plastic as makeshift masks due to kit shortages.

The other two strands of the PPE plan are making sure it's distributed properly; and beefing up future supply.

Over the next three weeks officials will roll out an online portal so care and NHS workers can request PPE from a central hub.