The applicants, including the Good Law Project, led by Jolyon Maugham QC, are seeking judicial review of the government’s efforts to supply health professionals with PPE.

The applicants want ministers to be forced to hold an independent inquiry into PPE and to ensure that staff in situations in which they are looking after COVID-19 patients will be able to obtain PPE if there is a second wave of the virus.

The case is being brought against Matt Hancock as health secretary by the Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK), the Good Law Project and the charity Hourglass.

The applicants’ crowdfunder has so far raised more than £57,000.

Dr Rinesh Parmar, chair of the DAUK, said: “We are appalled at the government’s refusal to urgently commission an independent public inquiry to examine all the facts from the planning to the procurement to the provision of PPE and learn lessons. A review is imperative if we are to avoid a repeat of the conditions seen during the first wave of the pandemic.

“Now is precisely the time to hold a rapid, focused inquiry into the provision of PPE to healthcare workers. There may be a second wave, and it may be soon.

“We know there has been an inadequate supply of out of date and perishing stock; we know our standards have fallen short of World Health Organization and European Centre for Disease Control guidance. It would be unconscionable to ask our NHS and care sector to face that second wave without learning lessons from the first.”