The Prime Minister has insisted the country is ready with a ‘fantastic’ health service, but the Doctors’ Association UK said less than 1% of medics agree.

Dr Rinesh Parmar, chairman of the group – which describes itself as a campaigning and lobbying organisation made up solely of UK doctors, said there is a fear an already-stretched NHS will not cope if there is a sudden increase in coronavirus cases.

He told the Guardian: ‘The truth is the NHS has already been brought to its knees and many doctors fear that our health system simply won’t cope in the event of influx of coronavirus patients.

‘With nearly 10,000 doctor vacancies and 43,000 nurse vacancies (in the NHS in England) the NHS is already understaffed to deal with demand.

‘A&E waiting times are the worst on record. Intensive care units are at capacity and are even struggling to admit patients who are critically unwell or awaiting cancer surgery.’

Of the 1,618 who replied to the survey question ‘do you feel the NHS is well prepared for coronavirus?’ just eight said they thought it was, the group said.

The Department of Health has said the NHS is ‘ready to fight’ the virus, but has urged the public to do their bit by following advice on general hygiene including handwashing and self-isolation if needs be.

In the UK the number of people infected has climbed to 39.

In total, four new cases were announced on Monday, all among people with recent travel to Italy, which is experiencing the biggest outbreak in Europe.

The Prime Minister warned more cases in the UK are likely as he urged people to wash their hands to the tune of Happy Birthday.

Speaking after an emergency Cobra meeting where ministers discussed a ‘battle plan’ to be published on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said the spread of Covid-19 was likely to become ‘more significant’ for the UK in coming days.

He said: ‘We have also agreed a plan so that if and when it starts to spread, as I’m afraid it looks likely it will, we are in a position to take the steps necessary to contain the spread of the disease as far as we can, and to protect the most vulnerable.’

Globally, around 86,000 people have been infected, with more than 3,000 deaths.