The Local > Covid-19
General Covid 19 news
SteveH:
This is a bit of good news............
A breathing aid that can help keep coronavirus patients out of intensive care has been created in under a week.
University College London engineers worked with clinicians at UCLH and Mercedes Formula One to build the device, which delivers oxygen to the lungs without needing a ventilator.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices are already used in hospitals but are in short supply.
China and Italy used them to help Covid-19 patients.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has already given its approval for their use.
"Prof Rebecca Shipley, Director of UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering, told the BBC: "Normally medical device development would take years but we've done that in days because we went back to a simple existing device and "reverse engineered" it in order to be able to produce them quickly and at scale."
"UCLH critical care consultant Prof Mervyn Singer said: "These devices are a halfway house between a simple oxygen mask and invasive mechanical ventilation which requires patients to be sedated.
"They will help to save lives by ensuring that ventilators, a limited resource, are used only for the most severely ill."
Full story https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52087002
SteveH:
Betsi Cadwaladr identify three sites for pop up hospitals in North Wales in response to Covid-19 and work underway to increase healthcare capacity
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) has increased bed numbers at Glan Clwyd Hospital, Ysbyty Gwynedd and Wrexham Maelor.
The locations for the makeshift hospitals have not yet been revealed.
BCUHB said it is working with its partners to finalise plans and will share further details in the coming days.
A spokesperson from BCUHB said: "We have a phased escalation plan in place to significantly increase the number of beds for our most poorly patients over the coming weeks, with plans in place to increase our capacity of ventilated beds.
"We are also progressing opportunities to establish additional capacity within all of our hospitals.
"For example, construction work has already begun to install an additional 80 beds at Glan Clwyd Hospital, using void space left as part of the hospital’s recent redevelopment, which would be ready to use at the end of April.
Cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18344249.betsi-cadwaladr-identify-three-sites-pop-hospitals-north-wales-response-covid-19-work-underway-increase-healthcare-capacity/
SteveH:
WALES’ leading organisation for healthcare innovation is calling on companies and innovators from across the country to join the fight against coronavirus.
Life Sciences Hub Wales is leading industry efforts to combat COVID-19 by launching a nation-wide drive to get companies from a range of sectors working together on solutions.
Having already received interest from hundreds of businesses and professionals, its mission is to accelerate the development of urgently needed products and treatments, such as ventilators, hand sanitisers and Personal Protective Equipment to ease the pressures on health care services and help protect frontline staff combatting the outbreak.
Any companies interested in getting involved should email their offer of support and details of their availability and capability to: information@lshubwales.com
Full story https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18347702.call-industry-collaboration-fight-coronavirus/
SteveH:
A news update from Bangor University......one thing on the list is quite thought provoking. refDP
Bangor University has outlined what it is doing to support the NHS and others during the coronavirus:
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Iwan Davies, said: “This is a very difficult time, and as well as continuing to educate students online, we have been responding directly to support the front line as they deal with the crisis.”
Amongst the steps being carried out by the University are:
Collecting suitable PPE for the NHS.
Using Halls of Residence as accommodation for NHS staff.
Research into the extent of Covid-19 transmission into waste treatment facilities.
Producing hand sanitiser.
Made available specialist laboratory equipment to analyse samples.
Providing up-skilling training in critical care for NHS staff.
Provide specialist respiratory physiotherapy training for NHS staff.
Make available facilities for blood donation.
Promoting volunteering amongst staff and students.
Work with partners across North Wales to produce visors for health service staff using 3D printing methods.
Professor Davies added: “We will continue to work with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and other partners over the coming weeks and months as we all rise to this significant challenge.”
Ian:
Covid 19 survives a very long time in human waste. I imagine that puts sewage plant workers at some risk.
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