Coronavirus patients at risk of staying on ventilators 'longer' as medicines running short

Coronavirus patients are at risk of remaining attached to ventilators for longer than necessary unless the British Government makes sure the drug supply does not run out. British Medical Association (BMA) anesthesiologist Tom Dolphin warned medicines used to ease COVID-19 sufferers machines are “running short” as he urged for greater clarity on plans to ensure access to supplies remains steady. Speaking to the Today programme, Dr Dolphin said: “The drugs that we’re seeing running short in various hospitals and various parts of the country is becoming a national problem.

“The drugs that are running short are mostly the ones we’re using in intensive care.

“Obviously, there are many more intensive care patients than usual and the drugs we’d use to keep people asleep, to keep people relaxed and to help with their breathing, those are the ones that are running short.

“There are alternatives but they’re the old drugs we’ve moved away from using because they’re not as good.”

Dr Dolphin warned the use of alternative drugs could result in a backlog leaving coronavirus patients in need of a ventilator without the machinery they require to help them breathe.

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He continued: “They can result in patients staying for longer on ventilators, taking longer to wake up and, of course, that’s no good for the patient who needs to be off the ventilator as soon as they can and it’s no good for other patients waiting to use that ventilator.

“Those alternatives are not as good, the Government needs to get on top of the drug supply as well.”

The BMA member also renewed calls to the Government to distribute the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) required to care for COVID-19 patients as he insisted NHS staff is still reporting gear is not reaching them.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted last week the PPE needed is available as he unveiled a new series of guidelines aimed at avoiding the wastage of protective gear.