Coronavirus: NHS hospitals to get upgraded oxygen systems after high demand caused supplies to fail

NHS hospitals are to have their oxygen systems upgraded so they can cope with the influx of coronavirus patients who need help to breathe.

NHS England carried out an audit last week to understand which hospitals were most at risk from extra demand on their existing systems. Those most in need will be prioritised for upgrades including extra oxygen tanks and supply lines.

It follows a number of incidents in recent weeks where the demand for oxygen from hospital wards at some trusts was so great it triggered safety mechanisms in the tanks, cutting off the flow.

Watford General Hospital was forced to shut its emergency department on 4 April and transfer patients to other hospitals after it lost oxygen.

NHS England has insisted there is enough oxygen available but said demand for the gas to help patients who were struggling to breathe was more than existing pipes in hospitals could cope with.

Hospitals store liquid oxygen in large tanks then vaporise it to produce a flow of gas into a building through pipes. Extra demand means call for more vaporisation and there is a limit to how much can be squeezed through the pipes.

In a letter to NHS chiefs on Sunday, Professor Keith Willett, strategic incident director, said: “NHS Estates has led a survey across all acute trusts to support the prioritisation of oxygen works needed. This is now complete, and the returns are being prioritised by the region to ensure supplier equipment and resources will be used where they will have the best impact.”

He warned trusts which had yet to respond to the survey to do so soon and added they should not ask supplier companies to install new oxygen tanks themselves.

“Their capacity for upgrades is being directed centrally, through regional prioritisation, and it is critical they are allowed to focus their limited resource where it will bring the greatest value,” Prof Willett said.

In the past week hospitals were warned to make sure they had portable oxygen cylinders on standby in case supplies were cut off. The main supplier, BOC, has worked with the NHS to agree an increased rate of flow from its tanks to provide wards with more oxygen.

Prof Willett said trusts should arrange for more frequent cylinder deliveries.

In his letter Prof Willett said action had been taken to ensure oxygen levels were maintained with suppliers increasing the frequency of deliveries and because of less demand from other industries more drivers were available.

He added: “Suppliers are also converting more tankers to transport liquid oxygen and have trained some military drivers to make oxygen deliveries.”

Prof Willett warned trusts not to change the maximum flow rate from their own tanks and that going above the limit was unsafe.

“Under no circumstances should trust staff make other changes to bulk oxygen supply systems. Suppliers are aware of several instances of trusts making changes to attempt to increase flow which had the effect of reducing sustainable flow. Unapproved changes can be dangerous.

He added: “At the time of writing, bulk oxygen supply systems have been secured for all the confirmed new hospital sites at ExCeL London, NEC Birmingham, Manchester Central, Harrogate, and Bristol.”

NHS England has been contacted for comment.