Gozo General Hospital has benefitted from 10 new ventilators after its operators, Steward Health Care, made the acquisition with the scope of continuing to strengthen preparedness to deal with COVID-19.

The private company running the hospital said in a statement that it acquired the ventilators from GE, through the assistance of the Steward US supply chain.

Steward said that there is an added benefit of acquiring the ventilators from GE, as such machines are already in use at the Gozo hospital and therefore, all ITU nurses are trained to use them.

“Nurses, who do not usually work at ITU, have received basic training over the last weeks in order to support ITU nurses, when and if required,” Steward said.

It added that the first phase of the ITU expansion, from six beds to 16 kitted out with ventilators, is now complete.

Further to this, two dialysis machines serving ITU patients were delivered some weeks ago while staff has already been trained.

The company said it has ordered another 10 GE ventilators, expected to arrive in summer.

These will be complimented by another five Philips’ V60+ ventilators which are due to be delivered in the coming weeks.

“This would result in a net capacity of 25 ITU beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients which would be one of the highest per capita ratios worldwide in addition to six in use for non-COVID patients,” the company said.

Throughout the past week there have been no new COVID-19 positive patients have been recorded. All patients admitted to the hospital are being tested and grouped in the Infectious Disease Unit until results are confirmed.

Steward said no staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 and all employees who were in quarantine have reported back to duty.