London Hospitals Facing 'tsunami' Of Virus Patients: NHS Official
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published March 26, 2020 | 04:51 PM
Hospitals in the British capital are being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, the head of an organisation representing bosses in the state-run National Health Service said on Thursday
London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Mar, 2020 ) :Hospitals in the British capital are being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, the head of an organisation representing bosses in the state-run National Health Service said on Thursday.
The chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson, told BBC radio that London hospitals had seen an "explosion of demand... in seriously ill patients", likening it to a "continuous tsunami", with numbers predicted to surge in the next fortnight.
"They talk about wave, after wave after wave," he said. "The word that's often used to me is a sort of continuous tsunami." According to the latest figures, 463 people have died from the virus and more than 9,500 people have been infected. London makes up a third of the UK total.
The government is opening a temporary 4,000-bed hospital at an exhibition centre in London next week to treat patients with the virus.
British media reported 10 similar facilities could be set up around the country.
Hopson said the problem of dealing with the increased number of patients was exacerbated by the "unprecedented absence rate" of medical staff.
"We're now seeing 30, 40 and even some places 50 percent sickness rates," he said, adding that there was also a "real problem" with ventilator capacity in hospitals.
His comments came as the government announced it had ordered 10,000 emergency ventilators to help tackle the pandemic from billionaire entrepreneur James Dyson.
In an email to staff, the inventor said his company designed the "CoVent" at the request of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and promised to donate 5,000 to the international relief effort.
Dyson said teams of engineers had been working on the design since receiving the call 10 days ago.
"We have received an initial order of 10,000 units from the UK Government, which we will supply on an open-book basis," he said.
"We are also looking at ways of making it available internationally."The company is now waiting for the design to receive regulatory approval so manufacturing can commence.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
UHS declares MBBS first prof, MS urology exam results
Separate coaches to be hired for ODIs, Test and T20I formats
Finance Minister calls for reforming tax system to improve country's economy
PM calls for joint efforts to check smuggling, power theft
Infinix Unveils a Vibrant New Chapter with Wahaj Ali: The face of Infinix NOTE 4 ..
PM makes two more appointments in his team
Terrorists of Shangla suicide attack will be brought to justice: Interior Minist ..
Applications Open for 6th Cycle of Start-up Incubation under the National Expans ..
Join vivo's "Light it Up" Social Media Contest in Ramadan to Win vivo V30 5G
Pakistan v New Zealand T20I series: Tickets to go on sale from today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 29 March 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 29 March 2024
More Stories From Health
-
UHS declares MBBS first prof, MS urology exam results
2 hours ago -
Increased diagnostic testing for drug resistance
6 days ago -
IRD releases groundbreaking results of end TB programme
8 days ago -
Increased diagnostic testing for drug resistance TB will enhance patients’ treatment outcome
11 days ago -
JRF to provide insulin to underprivileged diabetic patients
13 days ago -
MBBS third professional annual exams 2023: check results here
14 days ago
-
CM Maryam visits PIC, inquiries after patients
16 days ago -
Health expert recommends exercise for weight loss in Ramazan
18 days ago -
Blood camp held at SNGPL office
18 days ago -
Free Medical camp for people with mental, physical disabilities
24 days ago -
Breast cancer has become most common disease in few years: expert
24 days ago -
Punjab Healthcare Commission shuts down 634 illegal treatment centers
24 days ago