More than one in three ambulance staff have had Covid-19 – mainly catching it while at work, according to new research.

The GMB union said a survey of 1,600 of its members in the service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, suggested that 37% have had the virus.

Almost a third of those said their symptoms were “really bad” or required medical attention.

The GMB said poor personal protective equipment (PPE) was to blame, claiming that ambulance workers report having to attend patients with flimsy gowns.

Rachel Harrison, GMB national officer, said it was a “disgrace” that a year into the pandemic, staff were still not being given proper protection.

She said: “Our paramedics, technicians and practitioners are expected to treat suspected coronavirus patients with nothing but a flimsy mask and a plastic apron.

“GMB has called for guidance to be reviewed since the start of the pandemic and unless ministers sit up and take notice, our health service will be overwhelmed.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “The safety of NHS and social care staff including paramedics has always been our top priority and we continue to work round the clock to deliver PPE that helps protect those on the front line.

“Guidance on the safest levels and standards of PPE is written by experts and agreed by all four UK chief medical officers.

“Our guidance is kept under constant review based on the latest evidence.”