Government to support 11 devices in its Ventilator Challenge

The government has announced it will continue to support 11 devices in its Ventilator Challenge, as part of the drive to increase ventilator supply and protect the NHS.

Following a review by an expert panel of clinicians, including NHS clinicians and the regulator, the MHRA, the government will be ending support for four devices in the Ventilator Challenge, with the chosen devices proven to better meet the clinical needs of the NHS at this time.

Efforts to increase ventilator capacity have already seen an additional 2,400 mechanical ventilators made available to the NHS since the start of the pandemic, with over 250 coming from the Ventilator Challenge so far. The UK now has 10,900 mechanical invasive ventilators available to the NHS, as well as 4,300 non-invasive devices.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Since we launched the Ventilator Challenge the ingenuity and innovation shown by so many companies has been truly awe-inspiring and has helped us continue to get ventilators to the frontline and keep capacity ahead of demand. Technology and innovation, operating hand-in-hand with the care and dedication of our fantastic health and social care staff, will help us overcome this virus. I want to thank every company, and their staff, for their phenomenal achievements in going forward to the next stage.”