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Nearly 80 ventilators are now available to support the islanders hardest hit by covid-19 over the coming weeks and months after a batch of more than 100 medical items arrived on the island.
The Health Department is now able to intensively ventilate up to 39 patients at any one time, while 40 patients will be able to benefit from 'CPAP' oxygen support.
The batch arrived on Saturday (25 April).
The Ministry of Defence assisted with bringing the items to Jersey, transporting them from Telford via Portsmouth Harbour.
Video: A local Intensive Care doctor explains how the different types of ventilation work.
If further equipment is needed, officials explained that the island will be able to secure it via the Oxygen Equipment Allocation Programme run by the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care, with which Jersey’s government has weekly briefings.
Health Minister Deputy Richard Renouf said the arrival of the new equipment will ensure the island is “well prepared in the event of health complications arising from the coronavirus”.
He added that the government is speaking to suppliers on a “weekly basis to ensure we have the necessary equipment in Jersey for this outbreak and can continue delivering high quality healthcare”.
Jersey’s General Hospital has received a delivery of more than 100 items of medical equipment to support patient’s oxygen levels and breathing in the event of complications arising from COVID-19. Read more here: https://t.co/a0jxq4qFwV pic.twitter.com/uGfScyd8J0
— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) April 28, 2020
Group Medical Director, Patrick Armstrong, added: “Ventilators are the most invasive form of intervention for supporting people with their breathing. This equipment is used to support patients who are most ill from coronavirus and we now have a good stock of equipment which can be used when necessary.”
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