Coronavirus pandemic: Warwick and Leamington MP says frontline health workers 'need better masks' and calls on Government to provide them

In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Western stated that NHS workers are ‘terrified’ about this outbreak.

He urged Matt Hancock to provide ‘PPF3’ masks, which are currently given to construction workers.

Mr Western’s demand follows weeks of uncertainty about whether the NHS were being provided with adequate levels of personal protective equipment (PPE). He has raised the issue of a lack of PPE for services on the frontline constantly since the beginning of this outbreak.

Replying to Mr Western, the Health Secretary suggested he will speak to the Chief Medical Officer, Prof Chris Whitty, to see if this would be a possibility.

Later, in the Government’s daily press briefing, Hancock said frontline workers will get all PPE that they need.

Speaking about his challenge to the Government, Matt Western said: "Surgical masks are simply not enough to protect frontline workers.

"They are rightly demanding greater protection with better quality masks.

“If the Health Secretary is serious about giving frontline workers everything they need to be protected whilst fighting this virus, they need more than surgical masks; they deserve the best masks available.

“Workers are telling me all the time that they need more from the Government and that they are behind the curve – we need to ensure we equip those who are defending us with the best kit possible. Have we learnt nothing from when we sent our troops to war in Afghanistan with the wrong equipment?

“I’m calling on the Government to provide PPF3 masks to all who need them. I fear that the Government are still not getting a grip on the urgency of this emergency.”