An NHS doctor was forced to spend £90 of his own money on ski goggles to create "improvised" personal protective equipment (PPE) for his team.
Images emerged on social media showing three sets of Motocross anti-fog neon-yellow goggles, priced at £34.99 each.
The pictures were shared by the frontline doctor's MP Munira Wilson, who is the Liberal Democrat's spokeswoman for health.
Ms Wilson, MP for Twickenham, posted the snaps online to highlight the "utterly ridiculous" situation.
She posted the pictures yesterday with the caption: "Utterly, utterly ridiculous.
Are you an NHS worker concerned about adequate PPE? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk
"Doctors are now having to pay for their own improvised PPE equipment to keep them safe at work.
"Just been sent this from a doctor on the coronavirus frontline - he's spent £90 on ski goggles to protect him and his team."
The goggles are advertised by makers Motocross as a "budget goggle" and Ms Wilson's post has appalled social media users.
@MarsdenHelen wrote under Munira Wilson's tweet saying: "Yup. My colleagues doing the same. No one trusting PHE guidance which conveniently suits the lack of appropriate PP".
Most Read
@Doctor_Monah added: "Yes it's a nightmare - colleagues going down with confirmed CV19 as a direct result of inadequate PPE.
"A colleague has set up this fund which is shipping out PPE to frontline staff as of this week - this shouldn't be necessary but it is."
@MarkCunliffe76 wrote: "This is utterly wrong and reminds me of when we expected our troops to buy similar kits to go and to fight in Iraq but in a more terrifying way.
"We need an upgrade on our political system as it has completely failed us."
And @57FK66 commented: "A consultant friend has spent £500 on buying a respirator, still short of the right kit".
The incident follows reports of medical staff resorting to various improvised equipment, including making masks out of snorkels, buying kits from hardware stores and using school science goggles to protect themselves.
Teachers at one school have started making protective visors for NHS staff using equipment in their art and design workshop.
Ed Cann, an art and design teacher at Norwich School, said he wanted to help address the shortage of PPE for key workers during the coronavirus crisis.
The school made 138 visors on Monday using materials already in stock, and hopes to make at least 150 per day once they have sourced further materials.
"We have had numerous requests from the local medical community for the school's support," said Mr Cann. "Following prototyping on Sunday, we managed to produce 138 on Monday using the materials we had in stock."
He has shared the designs with other schools for them to help make as many visors as possible.
The first delivery went to facilities that directly approached the school for help, including several hospitals, a GP surgery and a hospice in Norfolk.
The school also donated around 100 pairs of goggles and 30 boxes of gloves from existing supplies in its science department.
Last week, 12 allied health professional bodies, representing more than 150,000 healthcare staff including paramedics and occupational therapists, wrote to the Health Secretary demanding better PPE for their members.