A fiasco-hit coronavirus supplies flight delivered just a few hours of gowns to the NHS, it is claimed today.
Ministers face fresh questions over an RAF plane which finally touched down yesterday after days of headlines.
Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick first claimed on Saturday that a "very large consignment" of protective kit including 400,000 gowns would arrive the next day.
Yet it was repeatedly delayed and eventually arrived at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire at 3.30am on Wednesday.
Downing Street today refused to say if it contained the full shipment of protective kit.
No10 also refused to comment on claims the Turkish government had to step in and provide the kit, because the original private order fell through.
Now the Health Service Journal reports that the consignment contained just 32,000 gowns - far short of the 400,000 promised.
According to the respected publication for medical experts, the NHS currently goes through around 150,000 per day.
The Department for Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.
It comes amid furious criticism of the government over the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff.
Just before the HSJ story was published, Downing Street refused to give any detail on the Turkey flight.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman told journalists: "I've got absolutely nothing for you on the Turkish flight, beyond saying that it arrived back in the UK yesterday, the items are being processed, and will be given to the NHS.
"I've not got any details of that flight."
The spokesman said 13million items of PPE were delivered to NHS trusts yesterday including gloves, aprons, masks, eye protectors and gowns.
He added: "We're sourcing PPE from across the world and where the RAF can help in getting that back to the UK quickly, they'll do so.
"That may well involve more RAF flights from Turkey in the coming days."
In the House of Lords today, one minister refused to apologise for failings in the supply of PPE.
Tory Lord Bethell said no one could have anticipated the "huge demands" placed on PPE by the coronavirus crisis.
And he claimed Britain was "not alone in struggling" with the issue.
"I don't think now is the time for apologies. Now is the time for delivering PPE and that is what this Government is focused on doing," Lord Bethell added.
