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NHS doctors warn their hospitals are running out of three vital drugs that help sicker coronavirus patients
- Doctors said supplies of propofol, fentanyl, and norepinephrine are running low
- They use powerful anesthetic drugs, such as propofol, to intubate their patients.
- The export of norepinephrine, epinephrine and fentanyl painkiller was banned.
- Learn more about how to help people affected by COVID
NHS doctors have warned that their hospitals are running out of three vital medications that help coronavirus patients fight for their lives with ventilators.
Medical staff said their supplies of the sedative propofol, as well as the pain reliever fentanyl and norepinephrine are running low.
Shocking revelations come as the death toll in Britain soared from 917 to 9,875, with an increase in infections from 5,233 to 78,991.
Medical staff said their supplies of the sedative propofol (pictured), as well as the painkiller fentanyl and the drug stimulating circulation are running low
Paramedics take a patient to St Thomas’ Hospital, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson is recovering from the coronavirus.
To manage the most severe cases of coronavirus, resuscitators should submerge patients in an artificial coma and intubate them.
They use powerful anesthesia medications, such as propofol, which now costs up to £ 20 per 100 ml, to do this and these are the ones that are fading fast.
Norepinephrine, a type of adrenaline, and the high-grade pain reliever fentanyl were banned from exporting last month to try to stop the shortage.
But consulting anesthetist Anthony Beaumont told the Sunday Mirror, “We’re running out of drugs,” adding that he has enough propofol for the past five days.
He said: ‘No one saw this pandemic coming and waiting for the Health Service to be ready is unfair. The infrastructure just doesn’t measure up. ‘
The 62-year-old man, who came out of retirement to join the ICU at Kent and Canterbury Hospitals, added: “There is a shortage. This could mean that operating rooms will receive the first choice and will leave patients in intensive care. ” .
He stated that there are plans to sedate Covid patients with morphine and midazolam, which he said are not as effective as patients take longer to wake up.
A doctor, who asked to remain anonymous, also said the medications are being rationed by the Department of Health for Social Care.
His warnings were echoed by the Chairman of the Research and Clinical Quality Board of the Royal College of Anesthetists, Professor William Harrop-Griffiths.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Assistance said: “We are doing everything possible to ensure that patients have access to the medications they need.”
‘We are working with the pharmaceutical industry and NHS England to make supplies available.
“We have banned the parallel export of more than 100 medicines to maintain supplies in the UK.”
It comes as senior NHS officials revealed that hospitals could run out of gowns for doctors after Secretary of the Interior Priti Patel said she regretted that people felt there had been a failure to supply protective equipment.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said she regretted that someone felt there was a failure in the supply of PPE for health workers in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The memos were leaked on Saturday and a “national shortage” of long-sleeved gowns needed to treat coronavirus patients was warned.
The disclosure comes when the government asked companies that can make gowns to subscribe to its new plan to produce personal protective equipment.
Kington Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said in a correspondence seen by The Telegraph that supplies of gowns could run out as soon as this weekend.
The news came hours after Public Health England relaxed its rules and said doctors could get away with wearing one-piece suits with a hood if gowns were not available.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said she regrets if anyone feels there has been a failure to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
In an email sent Thursday night, Martin Barkley, Executive Director of Mid Yorkshire, said: “I fully acknowledge the great anxiety that staff are feeling about this issue.
‘Every day you walk into work, leave your families behind, put yourself in what must feel like a vulnerable and terrifying position for our patients to do the right thing. I want to assure you that confidence is doing everything possible to secure more stocks. ‘
The Government has issued a petition to all industries requesting that companies that can produce protective equipment appear.
