UCL-Venturas sent to India to help with COVID-19 surge

UCL has sent 100 non-invasive breathing aids to India as part of the UK Government's shipment of emergency medical supplies. The UCL-Ventura breathing aid is part of over 600 devices including ventilators and oxygen concentrators being sent to the country, which is experiencing its biggest surge in COVID-19 infections, with over 350,000 new cases reported today (Monday). Holistic supply partner GTEM packaged and transported the devices from their warehouse in Gloucestershire within just 24 hours. They are now being flown to Delhi for use in hospitals in India's hardest hit areas. Professor Rebecca Shipley (UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering) said: "I'm immensely proud of the UCL-Ventura team and indebted to our logistics partner, GTEM, who after receiving the call on Saturday morning, arranged for the shipment to be sent with the Government's emergency supplies to India's worst hit areas. "In the last year we have built partnerships in countries across the world and we remain committed to doing everything we can to support the global COVID-19 response." Following the shipment of the first 100 devices, the team is ready to send more to India to help support the fight against COVID-19 and support hospitals in the region which are overwhelmed with patients. The surge in cases has come at the same time as a severe shortage of medical oxygen in some areas.