Doctors, nurses and 111 callers, working around the clock and unable to get basic supplies, faced 600 metre queues at a Tesco this morning (Sun), with no social distancing measures.
Mr Hancock said it was ‘brilliant support in our national effort’ to tackle the virus.
Thousands of NHS workers have signed a letter urging Boris Johnson to ‘protect the lives of the life-savers’.
Independent operators will be paid in return for providing thousands of beds, staff and ventilators.
NHS and social care staff will be given priority to do their shopping after an emotional video appeal by a critical care nurse.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), which specialises in mental health, made a plea for bars of soap for their desperate nurses
All NHS workers will be able to redeem the offer by showing their work ID at participating stores on Friday 20 March.
But the children of key workers, and children who are vulnerable, will be able to stay.
The anonymous doctor is currently in self-isolation and unable to work after showing symptoms.