A hospital worker who contracted Covid-19 told a friend "porters like me...do not have PPE" in a final text before his death.
Peter Gough shared his concerns in a series of messages before his death on May 12.
The 56-year-old worked as an administration assistant at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, Oxfordshire and was known as a "gentle giant" among pals.
Paul Saville, 53, had been friends with Mr Gough for 25 years and exchanged a number of texts about his work and the pandemic.
He has since said his friend was certain the hospital was the only place he could have caught Covid-19 and called his death a "scandal".
Bosses said the hospital had followed national guidance on giving staff PPE - but added those who do not have direct contact with patients are not considered to need it.
Mr Saville and Mr Gough, from Kidlington, Oxfordshire had an exchange through text and online just over a month prior to the death.
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In a message on April 7, Mr Saville asked his friend: "How's work? I take it your all now wearing PPE?"
Mr Gough replied: "No PPE for admin staff. Not even sanitizer gel as not enough for everywhere in hospital.
"Most of secretaries and mngt [management] now working from home. But most of us admin staff are needed in hospitals to do physical jobs."
Mr Saville answered: "Blimey... That's so bad."
Mr Gough went on: "No PPE unless on Covid wards. So most staff are in not using PPE. San gels in Covid and other wards, and in main public areas.
"But not in every one. So very careful what we touch and wash hands regularly."
Mr Gough, known as 'Goughy', also shared online a local newspaper story about the death of two porters at his hospital from suspected coronavirus on April 11.
He wrote: "Porters like me and other admin staff do not have PPE. But we go around the hospital to do our jobs in the background."
Mr Saville, from Maidstone, Kent, got to know Mr Gough when they both worked at HMRC.
They had known each other for decades and played darts together.
He added: "You can clearly see a concern within the messages. Peter, in my opinion, died unnecessarily.
"I cannot believe following the deaths of the porters others remained at risk. No PPE and outrageously no hand sanitiser. It's a scandal.
"Peter travelled to and from work in his car without stopping anywhere, he caught the virus clearly at the hospital.
"Peter was always positive and just got on with things. I think that ended up costing him."
He said that, aside from PPE and sanitiser, there should have been more effort put into enabling Mr Gough to do the majority of his admin work at home.
He added he and the deceased's wife and daughter, who he has been in contact with, wanted to ensure what happened to him didn't happen to others in the future.
Mr Saville said there had also been an outpouring of grief among the darts community following news of his death.
He said: "The man was a gentle giant, never had a bad word to say about anyone - he did not need to die."
He added that he last played with Mr Gough on April 22, the same day he was tested for Covid-19.
Mr Saville remembers his friend telling him "you could be the last player I beat".
Mr Gough was admitted to hospital on the April 30 and died on May 12.
Hospital bosses paid tribute to Mr Gough in a statement announcing the death last week.
Terry Roberts, the hospital's chief people officer, said: "Our thoughts at this very sad time are with Peter's family, as well as with his friends and colleagues throughout the trust.
"Peter spent his working life as a dedicated public servant, joining the NHS after a long period working at HMRC.
"We are all grateful for his service. He will be missed."
A statement from the hospital's managing trust in response to Mr Gough's messages said: "Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has followed national guidelines on appropriate levels of PPE throughout this pandemic.
"PPE has been available to the staff whose contact with patients mean that they require it.
"The levels of PPE are determined by the level of risk and exposure."
It added: "Staff who do not come into direct contact with patients are not considered to need PPE.
"All staff are regularly reminded about the need for social distancing and to wash their hands in line with national guidance."
Public Health England's current COVID-19 guidance for PPE is focused on those workers with direct contact with patients and states: "Staff should have access to the PPE that protects them for the appropriate setting and context."
For non-clinical areas in hospitals, such as in communal areas and during work breaks, it stresses the need for social distancing.
