U.K. Reportedly Spent $1.25M On COVID 'Pods' That Sit Unused Over Explosion Fears

Brittany M. Hughes | July 14, 2020
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Chalk another one up to having too many tax dollars to waste by a bloated government. But thankfully, this one’s not on the U.S….at least this time.

According to reports out of the U.K., unfortunate British taxpayers may’ve coughed up upwards of £1 million (about $1.25 million USD) for nearly two-dozen “isolation pods,” called an EpiShuttle, for coronavirus patients that ended up going completely unused over fears that they could explode. The single-patient transport devices are made by a Norwegian company called EpiGuard, which advertises the product online as "developed by clinical experts with first-hand experience in providing advanced treatment and transportation of patients with highly infectious diseases, including Ebola."

The Daily Mail reports via the U.K.’s Health Service Journal that England’s National Health Service won’t publicly admit how much they paid for the 15 pods they purchased, but said that the isolation devices usually cost about £35,000 each. NHS reportedly bought six of the pods back in February, then added another nine to their purchase order in March after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Ambulance Service said they paid about £500,000 for eight of the pods.

But a lot of good that’s done COVID patients in the U.K., considering the chambers were reportedly never even used after medical officials expressed concerns that they could…well, blow up. Which is just no good for anyone.

From the Daily Mail:


But multiple NHS sources have claimed none of the sealed pods have actually been used during the coronavirus crisis after staff raised concerns over the safety of the devices when patients are given oxygen. 

High levels of oxygen in confined spaces is a well-known fire risk and the presence of other gases, such as anesthesia, can cause a deadly explosion, it is feared.


The NHS has said in a statement that the EpiShuttles have been in regular use in several other countries, including Germany, with no adverse effects having been recorded, but that they are taking concerns “seriously.”

“No adverse events have been recorded related to the use of this equipment internationally,” NHS said. “But, as with any product, concerns should and will be taken seriously if they exist.”

Of course, one can only dream that one day, governments will also take the spending of taxpayer dollars seriously. 

 

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