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Panic buyers are depriving doctors, nurses and other care staff of supplies that they need and should be ashamed, according to the NHS England national medical director.

"Frankly we should all be ashamed of ourselves," Stephen Powis said.

“I would like to make a plea on behalf of all my colleagues in the NHS, nurses, doctors, paramedics and many, many others who are working incredibly hard at the moment to manage this outbreak of coronavirus.

“It’s incredibly important that they too have access to food, to those essential supplies that they need.”

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 50 show all Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1/50 Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA 2/50 An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA 3/50 Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons 4/50 Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images 5/50 Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters 6/50 Captain Tom Moore via Reuters 7/50 Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA 8/50 An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters 9/50 Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA 10/50 Tobias Weller PA 11/50 Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed 12/50 London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle 13/50 A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA 14/50 Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters 15/50 A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters 16/50 General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters 17/50 Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 18/50 A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images 19/50 A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA 20/50 Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA 21/50 Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA 22/50 A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images 23/50 People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA 24/50 Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA 25/50 Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters 26/50 Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn 27/50 Westminster Bridge is deserted PA 28/50 A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA 29/50 An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn 30/50 Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images 31/50 A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA 32/50 The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA 33/50 A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters 34/50 Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA 35/50 Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters 36/50 The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA 37/50 Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA 38/50 A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters 39/50 Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images 40/50 A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images 41/50 A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn 42/50 A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images 43/50 Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA 44/50 A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA 45/50 A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images 46/50 A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com 47/50 A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn 48/50 A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images 49/50 A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA 50/50 Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images 1/50 Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA 2/50 An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA 3/50 Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons 4/50 Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images 5/50 Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters 6/50 Captain Tom Moore via Reuters 7/50 Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA 8/50 An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters 9/50 Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA 10/50 Tobias Weller PA 11/50 Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed 12/50 London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle 13/50 A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA 14/50 Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters 15/50 A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters 16/50 General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters 17/50 Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 18/50 A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images 19/50 A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA 20/50 Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA 21/50 Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA 22/50 A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images 23/50 People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA 24/50 Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA 25/50 Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters 26/50 Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn 27/50 Westminster Bridge is deserted PA 28/50 A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA 29/50 An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn 30/50 Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images 31/50 A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA 32/50 The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA 33/50 A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters 34/50 Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA 35/50 Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters 36/50 The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA 37/50 Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA 38/50 A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters 39/50 Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images 40/50 A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images 41/50 A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn 42/50 A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images 43/50 Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA 44/50 A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA 45/50 A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images 46/50 A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com 47/50 A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn 48/50 A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images 49/50 A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA 50/50 Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

Mr Powis made reference to a video posted on social media of a critical care nurse who was reduced to tears, after being unable to find any fruit or vegetables in the supermarket.

“It’s unacceptable. These are the very people that we all need to look after perhaps us or our loved ones in the weeks to come,” he said.

Shelves across the UK have been left empty as people piled trollies with goods amid fears of shortages - despite frequent Government warnings to not do so.

Mr Powis also went on to reiterate the importance of social distancing.

Mr Powis said it was “absolutely crucial” the public at large followed advice on reducing social contact.

London Underground lockdown during Coronavirus 35 show all London Underground lockdown during Coronavirus 1/35 A TfL worker closes the gates at Barbican Underground station as it is temporarily close AFP via Getty Images 2/35 A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images 3/35 A man stands on an empty platform at Tower Hill underground station Getty Images 4/35 A TFL worker cleans hand rails on a London Overground train at Stratford station Getty Images 5/35 Empty streets around Bank Underground station in London PA 6/35 A sign informing passengers of a reduced service on the Underground at London's Paddington station PA 7/35 One commuter uses the escalator in a quiet Stratford Station during what would normally be the morning rush hour in east London AFP via Getty Images 8/35 A pedestrian walks past the closed entrance to Barbican Underground station is temporarily closed i AFP via Getty Images 9/35 LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: A woman sits on a near-empty underground carriage during what would usually be a very busy period for commuters Getty Images 10/35 A few commuters move through a quiet Stratford Station AFP via Getty Images 11/35 Bbarriers in a quiet Stratford Station AFP via Getty Images 12/35 Covent Garden Station Jeremy Selwyn 13/35 A few commuters move through a quiet Stratford Station AFP via Getty Images 14/35 A sign informing about a London Underground station closure is seen, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 15/35 A few commuters move through a quiet Stratford Station AFP via Getty Images 16/35 A few commuters move through a quiet Stratford Station AFP via Getty Images 17/35 A passenger, wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure against covid-19, passes a sign alerting travellers to changes in TfL services, at Embankment Underground Station AFP via Getty Images 18/35 Passengers wearing face masks as a precautionary measure against covid-19, sit in an underground train carriage on the District Line AFP via Getty Images 19/35 A man walks past a closed Borough Station, Reuters 20/35 A man passes a gated and closed Covent Garden Underground Station AP 21/35 Covent Garden Station Jeremy Selwyn 22/35 A passenger walks back up the stairs from the locked entrance of the closed Manor House London Underground station AFP via Getty Images 23/35 Arsenal Underground station closed AFP via Getty Images 24/35 A couple stands in front of a closed London Underground station, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 25/35 A sign informs passengers that Manor House London Underground station is closed AFP via Getty Images 26/35 Goodge Street Station Jeremy Selwyn 27/35 A man passes a locked up Covent Garden Underground Station AP 28/35 A general view of the entrance to Borough Underground Getty Images 29/35 Goodge Street Station Jeremy Selwyn 30/35 Goodge Street Station Jeremy Selwyn 31/35 Goodge Street Station Jeremy Selwyn 32/35 Goodge Street Station Jeremy Selwyn 33/35 Covent Garden Station Jeremy Selwyn 34/35 A sign informs passengers that Arsenal Underground station is closed AFP via Getty Images 35/35 A general view of the entrance to Borough Underground station Getty Images 1/35 A TfL worker closes the gates at Barbican Underground station as it is temporarily close AFP via Getty Images 2/35 A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images 3/35 A man stands on an empty platform at Tower Hill underground station Getty Images 4/35 A TFL worker cleans hand rails on a London Overground train at Stratford station Getty Images 5/35 Empty streets around Bank Underground station in London PA 6/35 A sign informing passengers of a reduced service on the Underground at London's Paddington station PA 7/35 One commuter uses the escalator in a quiet Stratford Station during what would normally be the morning rush hour in east London AFP via Getty Images 8/35 A pedestrian walks past the closed entrance to Barbican Underground station is temporarily closed i AFP via Getty Images 9/35 LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: A woman sits on a near-empty underground carriage during what would usually be a very busy period for commuters Getty Images 10/35 A few commuters move through a quiet Stratford Station AFP via Getty Images 11/35 Bbarriers in a quiet Stratford Station AFP via Getty Images 12/35 Covent Garden Station Jeremy Selwyn 13/35 A few commuters move through a quiet Stratford Station AFP via Getty Images 14/35 A sign informing about a London Underground station closure is seen, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 15/35 A few commuters move through a quiet Stratford Station AFP via Getty Images 16/35 A few commuters move through a quiet Stratford Station AFP via Getty Images 17/35 A passenger, wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure against covid-19, passes a sign alerting travellers to changes in TfL services, at Embankment Underground Station AFP via Getty Images 18/35 Passengers wearing face masks as a precautionary measure against covid-19, sit in an underground train carriage on the District Line AFP via Getty Images 19/35 A man walks past a closed Borough Station, Reuters 20/35 A man passes a gated and closed Covent Garden Underground Station AP 21/35 Covent Garden Station Jeremy Selwyn 22/35 A passenger walks back up the stairs from the locked entrance of the closed Manor House London Underground station AFP via Getty Images 23/35 Arsenal Underground station closed AFP via Getty Images 24/35 A couple stands in front of a closed London Underground station, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 25/35 A sign informs passengers that Manor House London Underground station is closed AFP via Getty Images 26/35 Goodge Street Station Jeremy Selwyn 27/35 A man passes a locked up Covent Garden Underground Station AP 28/35 A general view of the entrance to Borough Underground Getty Images 29/35 Goodge Street Station Jeremy Selwyn 30/35 Goodge Street Station Jeremy Selwyn 31/35 Goodge Street Station Jeremy Selwyn 32/35 Goodge Street Station Jeremy Selwyn 33/35 Covent Garden Station Jeremy Selwyn 34/35 A sign informs passengers that Arsenal Underground station is closed AFP via Getty Images 35/35 A general view of the entrance to Borough Underground station Getty Images

He said: “It’s not for somebody else to follow, it’s for you to follow, it’s for me to follow, it’s for everybody to follow.

“This is all our problem and if we do it together, it will be an effective strategy.

“If you do it, you follow the advice, you will be saving somebody’s life.

“This is the time in your lifetime whereby your action can save somebody’s life. It is as simple and as stark as that.”

At a Downing Street briefing, Environment Secretary George Eustice also urged people to “be responsible when you shop” and asked them to think of NHS workers, as he outlined measures to bolster the food supply chain amid the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Eustice said that talks were ongoing with supermarkets to ensure that food banks were able to retain stock in order to help vulnerable people.

He added that more information on the subject would be released in the coming days.