More than 150 ventilators to be made available in Tasmania

The number of ventilators in the state is set to double as medical and nursing staff upskill and prepare for future coronavirus cases.

TASMANIA will soon have more than 150 ventilators available as the state guards against further potential coronavirus cases.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney confirmed the state now had about 75 ventilators, with a further 80 on order.

Previously, Tasmania only had access to about 50 of the machines, meaning the state’s capacity will have been tripled.

It comes as more than 3000 ventilators are delivered to a national stockpile by Australian manufacturing company ResMed to assist in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ventilators lined up ready for use in Melbourne. Picture: DAVID CAIRD

Ms Courtney said Tasmania would be able to access more ventilators from the national stockpile if required.

She said work was underway to upskill medical and nursing staff to support the safe use of ventilators within hospitals.

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Ms Courtney said a small number of the state’s 200 confirmed coronavirus cases had required intensive care, but could not provide a precise number on how many had been managed on a ventilator.

She said she was confident the state was doing everything it could to prepare for future cases.

“As long as we continue to have the right social distancing measures, that we continue to ramp up our capacity within the health system, I’m confident that we are as well prepared as we can be,’’ Ms Courtney said.

“Australia more broadly and Tasmania have been actively planning for coronavirus since January.

“So a lot of work has gone into our health system, which has been seen by the capacity building, the orders for PPE and ventilators, so it’s about making sure that we have the capacity we need should we see further cases of coronavirus — and it is a delicate balance.”

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Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt. Picture: AAP IMAGE/ERIK ANDERSON

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said there would be a further 2500 ventilators to come from ResMed.

This will build on the more than 3000 recently delivered, and a further 2000 being manufactured by Grey Innovation.

“These additional ventilators will help ensure we have sufficient supplies to meet the increased demand we expect in coming months,’’ Mr Hunt said.

“Our national aim over the next few months is simple: suppress the virus, increase our testing and tracing, and slowly ease the restrictions.”