Thousands of seriously ill children are being put at risk due to shortages of ventilator equipment, a charity has warned.
WellChild, the national charity for sick children, said around 3,000 families with children who use ventilators are facing shortages of equipment such as bacterial filters and tubes which need regular replacement.
Due to the difficulties in accessing equipment, some parents are being told to use their supplies for longer than previously recommended, with some families told to use them for twice as long as usual.
Parents have expressed fears of infection, which may lead to potential hospital stays, long-term damage to the child’s health or death.
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