Faulty NHS medical equipment linked to over 300 patient deaths

Faulty and malfunctioning medical equipment has been linked to more than 300 patient deaths over the past two years, the Daily Mail reported. The figures were revealed through data released to the newspaper under Freedom of Information laws. [1]

National Health Service staff detailed the equipment failures on a confidential safety database, according to the Daily Mail. The logged incidents include broken devices and equipment that failed to operate during critical emergency procedures. [1]

Specific cases cited by the Daily Mail include an ambulance crew unable to deliver a shock to a cardiac patient because a defibrillator battery died and the spare battery was also flat. Other reported failures involved a defibrillator that stopped working in the rain and resuscitation bags that were missing essential components. [1]