The first devices from the Government’s ventilator challenge
will roll off the production line this weekend, ahead of
delivery to the NHS next week, Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster has announced today.
The news comes as some of the biggest names in British
manufacturing race to step up ventilator supplies to help
protect the NHS and save lives throughout the coronavirus
pandemic, as part of the Prime Minister’s call to
manufacturers.
This weekend, the first batch of the Penlon ventilator device,
which has been rapidly adapted from other existing ventilator
designs, will be ready for dispatch, following approval from
the MHRA that it meets the necessary safety requirements.
The device is being manufactured by a consortium* including
Formula 1 teams McLaren and Mercedes, Ford, Siemens and
Meggitt. An initial delivery will be ready this weekend, with
potentially hundreds more of that device to follow, alongside
thousands more of other new devices in the coming weeks.
Other existing ventilator devices are also being scaled up, in
collaboration with British and international industry,
including products from Diamedica, Breas Medical and Smiths
Group.
A number of other British manufacturers have also started
urgent production of new ventilators, designed from scratch,
following efforts from the industry and Government to rapidly
increase numbers available to the NHS.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said:
“Throughout our history British manufacturing has always
stepped up in times of national need.
“Ventilators are one of the most complex medical devices and
the speed and scale that design and production is ramping up is
awe inspiring.
“We will do whatever it takes to ensure the NHS and social care
sector has the support and equipment it needs to save lives.”
Health Secretary said:
“We are doing everything we can to support our NHS staff
fighting this battle on the frontline, and it’s crucial we get
even more ventilators there as soon as possible.
“We have seen a fantastic response from businesses to our call
for a national effort - and I’m delighted these companies
accepted the challenge to save lives across the country.”
The Government has provided a number of letters of intent to
purchase potentially thousands more ventilators with companies
who have credible designs, subject to them passing the
regulator and strict safety tests.
There are a number of companies involved in these devices
including: Plexus, Rolls Royce, GKN Aerospace, Team Consulting,
Cogent, Dyson, TTP plc, Sagentia, Smith & Nephew, Cambridge
Consultants, PA Consulting, Babcock, Oxford University, OES
Medical, BMW, Pitlane Consortium and Kings College London.
Separately, a team led by UCL, working with Mercedes Benz, will
also produce 10,000 new CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway
Pressure) devices to support affected patients, with a team
from Oxford University also developing related technology,
which will increase the capacity to provide oxygen to affected
patients at an earlier stage in the process of the disease.
Thanks to the work of consortiums that are scaling up
production of smaller manufacturers, as well as the ingenuity
of the biggest names in manufacturing to support the UK’s
response to this public health emergency, many are coming up
with new designs for this high tech medical devices in a matter
of weeks, rather than months, further underlining the scale of
this coordinated effort.
The Penlon device is based on elements found in their current
range of CE marked products and meets the rapidly manufactured
ventilator system specification. It is a fully intubated
mechanical ventilator designed to provide support to critically
ill patients with a range of functions including volume and
pressure controlled ventilation.
Further details are set out in the PM’s call with manufacturers
and suppliers, including other manufacturers involved:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-call-with-ventilator-manufacturers-and-suppliers-26-march-2020
Notes for Editors:
*The Ventilator ChallengeUK includes the following companies
and groups:
