Thousands of ventilators to be delivered to NHS next week as fight against coronavirus continues
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The government is working to increase supply of ventilators and coronavirus testing, it has claimed.
At the daily Downing Street press briefing this evening cabinet office minister Michael Gove said efforts were continuing to increase supplies of essential equipment to NHS staff.
"We are buying more ventilators from abroad, including from EU nations, " Mr Gove said.
"We are also developing other sources of supply at home.
"Before we had very little domestic manufacture but new models are now being produced in significant numbers.
"The first of thousands of new ventilators will be delivered to the NHS next week and rapidly delivered to the frontline."
Work was also being done to increase the number of tests for coronavirus that can be carried out and to increase oxygen supplies for those who are hospitalised after contracting coronavirus.
It had earlier been announced that the visas of NHS staff from overseas which are due to expire before October 1 will be extended automatically, allowing them to continue to be employed in the UK.
