Only half of UK’s sickest coronavirus patients put on ventilators

Evidence grows that many Covid-19 patients do better with non-invasive help

• Coronavirus – latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

Only about half of the sickest Covid-19 patients, admitted to intensive care struggling to breathe, are being put on mechanical ventilators, it has emerged, as evidence grows that many do better with non-invasive help.

The rush to increaase the number of ventilators in Britain from 8,000 to 18,000 was a response to early assumptions that intubation was the only way to save the lives of those who became severely ill. Industry was urged to switch production, with Dyson among those companies volunteering to help – and has now been told by the government its services are not needed.

Continue reading…