Just 30 of the new coronavirus ventilators trumped by ministers will be ready for the NHS next week, the government admitted today.
Michael Gove last night announced "the first of thousands of new ventilator devices will roll off the production line" this weekend, and "be delivered to the NHS next week." However, while tens of thousands of ventilators have been ordered, Mr Gove did not clarify exactly how many would roll off the production line this weekend.
Today the government clarified this number is in the region of 30. Officials insisted "potentially hundreds" more of the Penlon devices could arrive in the weeks afterwards, with thousands of other ventilators in the coming months.