A row over safety has erupted at a Sydney hospital where some doctors treating suspected coronavirus cases claim they were told to re-use face masks.

Key points: The doctors say they've been told to name and date used masks and put them in storage for later use

The doctors say they've been told to name and date used masks and put them in storage for later use The World Health Organisation advises against this practice when dealing with suspected COVID-19 patients

The World Health Organisation advises against this practice when dealing with suspected COVID-19 patients NSW Health says there is "sufficient" supply of masks in public hospitals and that it is monitoring stock levels

Two anaesthetists, who spoke to the ABC on condition of anonymity, said they were being told to use N95 or P2 masks all day.

They said doctors were asked to name and date the masks and put them in a communal bin for use at a later date.

The policy was changed after the ABC made enquiries about the practice, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) advises against when dealing with suspected COVID-19 patients.

"The masks are meant to be single use," one anaesthetist said.

"For example, if four patients are having an operation in one day, then ideally you would use four masks.

"Instead, we're asked to reuse them so that in a few weeks' time if all of a sudden there are no masks then at least we can go back to that — because the other option is [we'll have] nothing."

Despite the extreme measures, both doctors said their major teaching hospital may still not have enough masks for the expected influx of coronavirus cases in coming weeks.

"These are really desperate times. I've been a doctor for more than a decade and I've never had to do this before.

"We're terrified to be honest. It's as if we are being sent to war with no gun."

N95 and P2 masks each provide the same level of protection, which is more cover against aerosols than surgical masks.

The masks are commonly used when doctors are caring for patients with infectious diseases.

The AMA is urging healthy members of the public to stop using masks. ( ABC News: Patrick Stone )

They are also used by anaesthetists who perform tracheal intubations — the process of inserting a tube into a patient's airway so they can be placed on a ventilator.

"We are one of the highest-risk groups because we will be right over patients' mouths, putting the tubes into their lungs," one doctor said.

"That's obviously where the coronavirus lives."

Masks 'not meant to have an extended life'

In January the Federal Government authorised the release of 1 million masks from the national stockpile for distribution to health workers.

But one of the anaesthetists said their hospital "only had around 60 masks" left.

"We are being constantly told that we don't have enough masks and to save them," the doctor said.

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AMA federal vice-president Chris Zappala is concerned by dwindling mask supplies. ( Supplied )

The ABC has not identified the doctors at their request so that they can speak freely without professional repercussions.

Australian Medical Association vice-president Chris Zappala said the scarcity of personal protective equipment and the reuse of masks was worrying.

"Those masks are clearly not meant to have an extended life," he said.

Dr Zappala urged healthy members of the public to stop wearing P2 and N95 masks.

"People running around in surgical masks in the community are not really protecting themselves and they're almost certainly not using masks properly," Dr Zappala said.

"That sort of use takes the mask availability away from workers on the front line."

Professor Mary-Louise McLaws from the University of New South Wales said the WHO had been considering the possibility of healthcare workers either extending the use or reusing face masks, goggles and face shields.

"We would prefer countries to provide single-use masks but are cognisant that this may not be possible as the virus continues," said Professor McLaws, who is a member of the WHO COVID-19 rapid response panel.

"So we've been discussing whether or not UV light or disinfectants are effective in cleaning equipment but we haven't come up with the safest option yet."

Staff have no reason to reuse masks: NSW Health

Many doctors have also been forced to source their own personal protective equipment in preparation for the worst-case scenario.

"As anaesthetists we are trained to remain calm in a crisis but we've never really been put in a place where we're not given the proper equipment to carry on with our job," one doctor said.

"The Government needs to realise the dire situation we are in."

A NSW Health spokesperson said the current supply of P2 and N95 masks in public hospitals across the state was "sufficient".

"No staff at any NSW public hospital have any reason to be reusing personal protective equipment, which is against strict infection control guidelines," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said P2 masks used by anaesthetists in operating theatres were being replaced after every COVID-19 patient.

They said to meet demand, an extra 11,000 gowns and 22,000 masks were distributed late last week.

"On a daily basis we are monitoring our critical PPE stock levels, and in particular our P2 masks."