Extra ventilators ‘won’t arrive for months’
THOUSANDS of extra ventilators for critically ill coronavirus patients are not expected to be ready for months – with just three weeks to go before the disease is expected to peak in the UK.
Downing Street said an 8,000 additional machines had been ordered to boost the 8,000 already available.
But with Covid-19’s peak poised to strike, there were fears hospitals would not have enough machines in time.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We would say we expect thousands of those to arrive in the coming weeks and thousands more in the pipeline to arrive in the coming months.”
But on Wednesday, scientist Professor Neil Ferguson, who has been advising the Government, said the majority may be needed sooner.
He predicted intensive care demand would peak in “approximately two to three weeks and then decline thereafter” if the lockdown measures work.
Boris Johnson was also criticised for not joining an EU scheme to boost the number of ventilators, with Lib Dem MP Layla Moran accusing him of putting “Brexit over breathing”.
The Government later said the UK missed the scheme deadline because of a “communication problem”.
Downing Street also contradicted a claim by entrepreneur Sir James Dyson that the Government ordered 10,000 ventilators from his firm.
It said that all manufacturers’ efforts must first pass tests from expert clinicians and health regulators before purchases were made.
A MYSTERY man has tried to keep spirits high during the coronavirus lockdown by treating his village to fish and chips.
Stephen Davidson, owner of the Fox Inn, Denchworth, Oxfordshire, said the donor hoped he would inspire others to do the same.
The meals are being dished out today and the villagers would have even more food delivered in the weeks ahead.
Stephen said: “He was prepared to fund, once a week, a takeaway for every member of the village.
“He said he’d like to do it for a minimum of 12 weeks.”