Johnson’s Ventilator Plan Puzzles U.K. Firms Wanting to Help
- Boris Johnson has urged higher output of life-saving equipment
- Business chiefs doubt carmakers can help make breathing units
Boris Johnson
Photographer: Richard Pohle/The Times/Bloomberg
This article is for subscribers only.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s call on U.K. manufacturers to build potentially life-saving ventilators is fueling frustration among companies willing to help, but doubtful of the plan.
Johnson has asked firms like carmakers to ramp up production of the machines, as his government urgently tries to ready the country’s National Health Service for more cases of the coronavirus. On Sunday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the nation has about 5,000 ventilators and needs many times more.