NEW: The Department of Health has issued safety warnings, notices for disposal and distribution stoppages for more than 85 million masks and respirators, a Channel 4 News investigation has found.

The masks and respirators, many of which had passed their use by dates, were stored at the government’s Pandemic Stockpile in Haydock, Warrington and have been distributed to hospitals, care homes and GP surgeries since March.

Last week MHRA issued guidance to NHS stating millions of Cardinal surgical masks, distributed by Medline, should be “disposed of”.

NHS wrote to health workers: “There is a risk to staff wearing the mask if the foam strip on the mask flakes and enters their airway or mouth.”

Tonight the @TheBMA issued a statement in response to the Channel 4 News investigation saying:

"This is nothing short of a national scandal."

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) told us that “rigorous checks were made” before distribution.

WATCH: @vsmacdonald's report into the millions of expired surgical masks and respirators that have now been withdrawn from use. https://www.channel4.com/news/safety-fears-over-85-million-masks-and-respirators