Doctors and nurses risking their lives every day to treat coronavirus patients feel like 'cannon fodder' because of a lack of protective equipment and testing kits, a top medic warned today.

Doctors' Association chairman Dr Rinesh Parmar made a direct appeal to Boris Johnson today as he urged him to divert more resources to hospital staff fighting to hold back a flood of cases and save lives.

Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr Programme he said NHS staff dealing with the coronavirus outbreak are still not getting the protective equipment they need.

'We have had doctors tell us they feel like lambs to the slaughter, that they feel like cannon fodder. GPs tell us that they feel absolutely abandoned,' he said.

'We are all pleading with Boris Johnson that they really look into arranging the vital personal protection equipment that all of us need on the NHS frontline.

Medics are working around the clock to save the lives of coronavirus patients, and the public have shown their appreciation, including in Manchester, pictured

Doctors' Association chairman Dr Rinesh Parmar made a direct appeal to Boris Johnson today as he urged him to divert more resources to hospital staff fighting to hold back a flood of cases and save lives

Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr Programme he said: 'We are all pleading with Boris Johnson that they really look into arranging the vital personal protection equipment that all of us need on the NHS frontline'

'What our doctors are telling us is that although equipment is arriving, some of it is inadequate, some of it doesn't meet the World Health Organisation guidance.

'That really doesn't fill front-line healthcare staff with the confidence that they need.'

It came as seven more people in Wales have died after contracting the coronavirus, taking the UK total to 240 amid a widening social clampdown on movement.

Speaking on Sky's Ridge on Sunday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: 'NHS staff have not all got full protective equipment at the moment or protective clothing, care staff have almost none at all and care workers, some of whom work in care homes, are obviously at risk but even more at risk are the care workers who are going from house to house of their clients and clearly are in danger of either contracting or spreading the virus.'

Earlier Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary and current chairman of the Health Select Committee, told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the NHS has 'moved heaven and earth' to get protective equipment to every hospital.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick added: 'By this afternoon, every hospital in the country will have the next set of supplies of PPE.

'We've also delivered them to pharmacists and the GP surgeries. This coming week supplies will be delivered to all social care providers.

'We are manufacturing and importing very large quantities now. In recent days we've received almost three million face masks for example.

'PPE will get to the frontline as soon as possible.'