Ventilator shortage due to mix-up as PM calls for more to be built

THE Government has blamed a mix-up in communications for missing a deadline to take part in a Europe-wide scheme for extra ventilators.

Boris Johnson’s administration had been accused of putting Brexit before patients after it initially said it did not take part in the EU scheme that would have granted more ventilators because it was “no longer a member” and was “making our own efforts”.

However, Downing Street has since said it did not join the scheme because it missed the deadline. A No10 spokesman said: “Owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to join in four joint procurements in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“As the [European] Commission has confirmed, we are eligible to participate in joint procurements during the transition period, following our departure from the EU earlier this year.”

He confirmed that, as the four initial procurement schemes had already gone out to tender, “we were unable to take part in these, but we will consider future procurement schemes”.

John Ashworth, Labour’s shadow health secretary, called for an “urgent explanation from ministers about how they will get crucial supplies to the front line”, as he added that the UK “should be cooperating through international schemes to ensure we get these desperately needed pieces of kit”.

No10 has insisted it is doing “all we can” to secure more ventilators.

Mr Johnson, who has tested positive for coronavirus, had a phone call with businesses involved in the manufacturing of ventilators on Thursday, where he was updated on how soon more could be produced.

It comes after Downing Street said an additional 8,000 ventilators had been ordered by the Government to boost the stock of 8,000 already available to the health service.

Officials said thousands more would be available in the “coming weeks”.