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WQ.137/2020
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HERALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 24th MARCH 2020
Question
Will the Minister advise Members –
- how many ventilators are there in the public sector in the Island and, if he has access to this information, how many are there in the private health sectors;
- how many of any such ventilators are fully serviceable;
- how many such ventilators are on order, if any; how the size of any such order was determined and what the expected delivery date is; and
- how many staff are trained in their use?
Answer
- how many ventilators are there in the public sector in the Island and, if he has access to this information, how many are there in the private health sectors;
In normal circumstances, the critical care service has the capability of ventilating 7 patients. With our contingency planning, the critical care service has capability to ventilate up to 24 patients.
- how many of any such ventilators are fully serviceable; 24 within HCS
- how many such ventilators are on order, if any; how the size of any such order was determined and what the expected delivery date is; and
HCS is currently attempting to procure a further 12 ventilators from our suppliers. These will act as an additional resource should they be required and should a ventilator experience a technical problem. HCS was anticipating delivery within two weeks for the majority of the ventilators. However, this is subject to change given the unprecedented global demand for this specialised equipment and the fact that management of these scare resources is now being centralised through the Department for Health & Social Care in the UK.
- how many staff are trained in their use?
The 50 (f-t-e) staff in the critical care unit are trained in their use and following the cancellation of non-urgent operations, HCS is upskilling theatre and ward-based staff to add to the number available.