Fears have been raised not only over the quantity of PPE, but the quality

The UK will be short of up to a billion items of personal protective equipment (PPE), according to a secret forecast commissioned by the government that will heap pressure on the health secretary, Matt Hancock.

The predictions of severe shortages were set out in a 90-day projection modelled by the consultancy firm McKinsey, which was circulated among ministers within the last week.

Fears have been raised not only about the quantity of PPE — which includes gowns, masks and gloves — being given to medical staff, but also the quality. A Whitehall source claimed the standards of equipment in the UK had developing countries “watching in horror”.

“There is ever-growing concern about PPE because the quality of Public Health England guidance has been woeful,” said