The government has been criticised for failing to produce enough ventilators. But why are they important? Here’s all you need to know

When the outbreak began, the Government promised that the first batch of new ventilators made by UK manufacturers will be in hospitals by April. It was eagerly awaited news at the time by the medical industry, who had 8,000 ventilators and needed the boost for the NHS.

But what are they and why are they important in the fight against coronavirus?

What is a ventilator?

A ventilator, formerly known as a respirator, is a machine designed to help move breathable air in and out of the lungs in the event that a person is unable to breathe by themselves or their lungs are not operating at full capacity.

If the patient only needs the ventilator for a portion of the time, such as while sleeping, they would usually inhale air through a nasal mask. However, if a patient needs long-term ventilator dependence, they will usually receive a tracheotomy cannula; a small slit in the throat that a tube is fed through.

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