British doctors have shared their fears over Chinese ventilators and called for their withdrawal.
Medics from the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust warned that the Shangrila 510 model caused “significant patient harm including death” if ever used in a hospital environment.
The senior doctors revealed the ventilators made by Beijing Aeonmed Co. Ltd. had a problematic oxygen supply and couldn’t be sanitized properly.
The 5-page letter seen by NBC News read: “We believe that if used, significant patient harm, including death, is likely.
“We look forward to the withdrawal and replacement of these ventilators with devices better able to provide intensive care ventilation for our patients.”
These complaints come after 300 Chinese ventilators were delivered to the UK on April 4.
It is not clear whether any other NHS hospitals received the ventilators.
Doctors of the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust explained that the ventilator made by the Chinese company provided an oxygen supply they described as ‘variable and unreliable.’
In addition, the ventilator could not be cleaned properly. Medics also said that the devices were designed for ambulance use and not for hospitals.
The machines also had an unfamiliar design to British doctors and came with a confusing instruction manual.
Beijing AeonMed is a ‘leading domestic R&D and manufacturing enterprise for anesthesia and respiratory equipment,’ its website reads.
Established in 2001, the company sells a range of medical products, including operating tables, infusion pumps, operating lights, anesthesia machines, endoscopes and warming blankets.
“The Shangrila 510 ventilator model is not being used in hospitals and no patients are at risk,” said a Government spokesperson.
“Ventilators need to pass robust regulatory tests to ensure they are up to standard before they’re delivered to NHS hospitals.
“Our absolute priority in this global pandemic is saving lives and we are increasing our provision of ventilators to ensure the NHS continues to have the resources it needs, through procuring more ventilators from overseas, including over 4,000 from China, scaling up the production of existing or modified designs and working to design and manufacture new devices.
“We currently have around 10,900 mechanical ventilators available to NHS patients across the UK, as well as 4,300 non-invasive ventilators.”
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Replaced!