Charity donates equipment for ten ICU beds in Covid-19 fight

A Scottish charity which normally donates to developing countries is giving half a million pounds worth of medical equipment to support Scotland’s coronavirus effort.

Kids Operating Room, founded by Gareth and Nicola Wood, will equip ten intensive care beds for NHS Scotland.

The set-up includes ten specialist anaesthetic machines for the most seriously ill patients, which can also act as ventilators.

The charity normally supplies and fits out children’s operating rooms in low and middle income countries such as Ethiopia, Malawi and Rwanda.

NHS Scotland has said the equipment will be used at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee to open ten more ICU beds for patients suffering from Covid-19.

Kids Operating Room (KidsOR) will donate a further 16 patient monitors and pulse/oxygen monitors for use anywhere in Scotland. The value of the donated equipment is just under £500,000.

Mr and Mrs Wood said: “We know that this is the most challenging time ever to face healthcare systems around the world.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt thanks are with those on the front line fighting Covid-19.

“KidsOR’s entire focus is on saving lives and we are proud to do that both overseas and now, during this crisis, at home too. We hope that this donation will help towards NHS Scotland providing the extra ICU capacity they need.”

NHS Tayside‘s Chief Executive Grant Archibald said: “This donation from KidsOR comes as NHS Tayside is planning to increase critical care capacity further as part of our ongoing response to COVID-19.

“The support coming from charities, the public and the business community has been tremendous and we are grateful to everyone.”