Scottish manufacturers are at the forefront of efforts to produce of thousands of extra ventilators for the NHS.

Babcock International Group is leading on the design and production of 10,000 ventilators for the NHS in response to a UK Government call for help from industry.

As well as working on a brand newbrand-new prototype, a supply chain has been set up enlisting a number of manufacturers to help with assembly and production.

As part of this two companies, Plexus and Raytheon UK, will be supporting the production of ventilators from facilities in Kelso, Livingston and Glenrothes.

Ivan McKee, Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation said the firms were at the “vanguard of efforts” to manufacture more ventilators as part of the UK-wide drive to tackle covid-19.

He said: “Ventilators are hugely complex devices that normally require time to be designed and tested, so the speed with which Plexus and Raytheon UK, as part of the Babcock supply chain, have responded to push forward sizeable production is commendable.

“They and their staff are working round the clock and are a credit to Scottish manufacturing.”   

More than 200 anaesthetic machines have also been adapted to be used as ventilators for critically ill coronavirus patients in Scotland.

Sign up to our bulletin sent twice a week so you don’t miss out on the latest health and social care news.