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Britain missed out on three chances to be part of an EU scheme to bulk-buy masks, gowns and gloves – with shortages of PPE on the NHS frontline now being revealed.

The Guardian reports that the UK has also been absent from key talks about future purchases, choosing to make its own arrangements, despite a number of invites from the EU to be involved.

European doctors and nurses are preparing to receive the first of €1.5bn (£1.3bn) worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) within days through a joint procurement scheme involving 25 countries and eight companies.

Medical equipment, including masks, overalls and goggles, is now in excess of the number requested, a spokesman for the European Commission said.

There have been many reports of NHS staff not having enough PPE.

The EU is separately establishing stockpiles within member states, with the first being set up in Romania.

UK missed three chances to join EU scheme to bulk buy PPE as NHS hit by shortages