Despicable thieves are stealing NHS hand sanitiser from the hospital beds of sick and vulnerable patients to sell on eBay, in a bid to cash in on coronavirus Covid-19 fears.
Face masks are also being swiped from hospitals, medics have revealed.
Twitter user Dr Mike, who describes himself as a doctor in emergency medicine, tweeted: "Hey eBay_UK Stolen NHS hand sanitiser for sale on your website.
"We are having these stolen from the end of vulnerable unwell patients beds by relatives and thieves, in NHS hospitals. Please sort this out "
The Cutan Foam was described as an "NHS hospital grade Hand Sanitiser" and listed for sale at price of £65.
The seller - who has since ended the listing "because there was an an error" - said they had two of the item available.
Responding to Dr Mike's tweet, MD James Heilman replied: "Yes us too. Also having masks stolen from hospitals and clinics."
It comes as panic buying has seen supermarket shelves emptied of hand sanitiser and liquid soap.
However, washing-up liquid can also be used to help prevent the spread of the Covid19 coronavirus a doctor has said.
On Twitter Dr Adrian Heald, a consultant physician in diabetes and endocrinology at Leighton and Macclesfield Hospitals, urged people not to panic "if liquid soaps are sold out".
He explained that the coronavirus has a fatty outer layer", and that "anything that dissolves fat will work".
"I thought a few people might not know it," said Dr Heald. "I learned about it from a very senior colleague and thought best pass it on."
"Thinking about the people who are relying on food banks and can't afford such luxuries, for them dish washing liquid might be the only option."
