CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Call to action for UK Trusts with broken or disused ventilators
Managed service and maintenance provider Althea is urging UK hospitals who have disused ventilation equipment to contact them immediately.- Coronavirus
Could robotics help combat coronavirus?
The use of robotics and artificial intelligence has been a key feature in the fight against Coronavirus in China, where the technology has been used for infection control, logistical tasks and support in the treatment of patients. Now a British-based organisation, MedAssyst, is bringing the technology to the UK.- Coronavirus
UK leads world's largest trial of coronavirus treatments
The world’s largest randomised clinical trial of potential coronavirus treatments is underway in the UK as part of the race to find a treatment.- Coronavirus
Survey finds only one third of physicians can access COVID-19 testing despite symptoms
A survey of over 2,513 members of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has revealed that only 31% of its members are able to access COVID-19 testing for themselves if they have symptoms.- Coronavirus
NICE publishes second set of rapid COVID-19 guidelines
The new NICE guidelines cover the provision of radiotherapy services and bone marrow transplant during the COVID-19 pandemic.- Coronavirus
Formula 1 'Project Pitlane' to support manufacture of medical devices
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is working closely with Formula 1 and a collective of UK-based teams, engine manufacturers and their respective technology arms as part of Project Pitlane to co-ordinate work in scaling up ventilator production for patients with coronavirus.- Coronavirus
Professor calls for engineers to help solve NHS and healthcare issues amid pandemic
A new project has been launched to unite engineers from across the world to help solve challenges deriving from the Covid-19 pandemic.- Coronavirus
UK launches whole genome sequence alliance to map spread of coronavirus
The Government and the UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser have backed UK clinicians and scientists to map how COVID-19 spreads and behaves by using whole genome sequencing.- Coronavirus
Southampton team develops prototype PPE to protect frontline staff from COVID-19
Engineers and medical staff from the University of Southampton are testing a prototype of a personal respirator they have developed for frontline healthcare staff tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. If the tests are successful, they hope it will solve the limitations of existing protective equipment doctors and nurses are wearing on the wards.- Coronavirus
Trials start on inhaled drug for COVID-19
A team of scientists at the University of Southampton have announced a trial of an inhaled drug that may help people reduce the symptoms of COVID-19. This trial is being supported by the NIHR through its Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration (R-TRC).- Coronavirus
CPAP could help avoid invasive ventilation in COVID-19 patients
A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device could provide an alternative breathing aid to help COVID-19 patients with serious lung infections, without the need to use invasive ventilators – according a team of engineers and clinicians, from Formula 1 and UCLH.- Coronavirus
Individuals taking class of steroid medications at high risk for COVID-19
Individuals taking a class of steroid hormones called glucocorticoids for conditions such as asthma, allergies and arthritis on a routine basis may be unable to mount a normal stress response and are at high risk if they are infected with the virus causing COVID-19, according to a new editorial published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.- Coronavirus
China's control measures may have prevented 700,000 COVID-19 cases
China's control measures during the first 50 days of the COVID-19 epidemic may have delayed the spread of the virus to cities outside of Wuhan by several days and, by interrupting transmission nationwide, prevented more than 700,000 infections across the country, according to an international team of researchers.- Coronavirus
Ethical guidance published for frontline staff dealing with pandemic
The Royal College of Physicians has published ethical guidance for frontline staff dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, supported by more than a dozen other royal colleges and health organisations.- Coronavirus
GMC grants temporary registration to 11,800 doctors to tackle coronavirus
The General Medical Council (GMC) has today (Friday 27 March) granted temporary registration to 11,856 doctors who had left the profession, following an official request by the UK Government.- Coronavirus
Northern Italian town combats coronavirus through mass testing
An Italian town is reported to have eradicated coronavirus through early and widespread diagnosis and testing. Wesley Baker, the CEO of a manufacturer of a 'breath test' for COVID-19, argues that this shows the impact of mass screening. He is calling on the UK to speed up efforts to test and diagnose as many people as possible.- Coronavirus
Imperial researchers say COVID-19 could have caused 40 million deaths if left unchecked
The outbreak of COVID-19 would likely have caused 40 million deaths this year in the absence of any preventative measures.- Coronavirus
Surge in volunteers to help NHS in fight against coronavirus
Over 400,000 people have already signed up to volunteer for the NHS to help in its fight against coronavirus.- Coronavirus
Expert calls for testing on disinfectants and hand gels in wake of COVID-19
Dr. Andrew Kemp JP PhD, a specialist in disinfection and decontamination, is calling on public bodies to conduct independent testing on disinfectants and hand sanitisers to identify the most effective methods of tackling COVID-19.- Coronavirus
Warwick company answers national call to support NHS
A Warwick-based medical supplies is answering a national call to support the increased delivery of PPE products to the NHS. Warwick Sasco, which is based on the Heathcote Industrial Estate, supplies plastic medical devices that can be sterilised and, in the last 12 months, has dispatched seven million products worldwide.- Coronavirus
