Ventilator ‘Rationing’ Begins in Britain Amid Coronavirus Crisis, Lockdown Extends Until June

Ventilator ‘rationing’ has started in Britain as only those with a ‘reasonable certainty’ of making it out alive are to receive the machines at a hospital in London.

This comes as the number of deaths in the United Kingdom has risen from 209 in 24 hours from 1019 to 1228, as cases surged from 2483 to 19,522.

Machines used for keeping patients breathing are being restricted on medical grounds, not because of lack of such, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust revealed to the Daily Telegraph.

They said:

‘very poorly patients with coronavirus may need to be on a ventilator for extended periods’, adding that ‘for some patients this would not be in their best interests’.

A senior consultant said:

‘As we learn more about the disease, we are being much more careful about which patients are being considered for critical care. In normal times we will give most people the benefit of the doubt. That has changed.’

‘With this infection you need a couple of weeks on a ventilator, so with resources being used for such a long time, you have to be reasonably certain the person is going to get better. Delaying their death for two or three weeks is not the right thing for them or for society.’

However, the medical director of the trust had the following to say:

‘clinicians at our trust are not making decisions about ventilating patients based on capacity considerations. Our trust currently has good capacity for patients requiring ventilation and already has plans in place to increase that capacity.’

As per an NHS spokesperson:

‘There are hundreds of critical care beds available in London and thousands in the rest of the country so any patient that would benefit can get the care they need.’

In addition, the United Kingdom would need to stay in full lockdown at least until June to beat coronavirus, according to a health chief. 

Professor Neil Ferguson believes the people would need to stay home for about three months to stop the spread of the silent killer.

He told The Sunday Times:

“We’re going to have to keep these measures [the full lockdown] in place, in my view, for a significant period of time — probably until the end of May, maybe even early June. May is optimistic.”

He also warned that most likely the nation would still need to keep social distancing for a few months more after the end of the lockdown.

This could mean that educational facilities would need to remain shut until autumn, with people told to keep working from home.

Recently, Boris Johnson – who is currently fighting the coronavirus himself – said the situation would “get worse before it gets better”.

In a message being sent to households across the UK, the Prime Minister notes that the government will enforce further lockdown measures if it comes down to it.

The letter states:

“It’s important for me to level with you — we know things will get worse before they get better.

“But we are making the right preparations, and the more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost and the sooner life can return to normal.”

He added:

“We will not hesitate to go further if that is what the scientific and medical advice tells us we must do.”

Last week, the PM announced that he would be working from indoors after testing positive for the virus. 

He will remain in isolation for a week under Public Health guidelines, while his pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds is isolated separately.

Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus

Boris Johnson today tested positive for coronavirus – here's what he had to say.

Posted by Daily Mirror on Friday, March 27, 2020

According to a source:

“The PM believes he owes it to every one of us to explain directly why these tough measures are required. He is also keen to thank them for their efforts.

“It’s important to let people know how serious this pandemic is but also to give everyone a little hope that it won’t be forever and they will get all the support they need.”

What are your thoughts on the crisis the United Kingdom is currently facing? Let us know by joining the conversation in the comments and please share this article if you’ve found it informative.

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