Defence firm Babcock to make 10,000 ventilators

Following in the footsteps of Apple and Dyson, defence firm Babcock has said it will be manufacturing 10,000 ventilators to help deal with the coronavirus crisis.

Responding to the Prime Minister's UK Ventilator Challenge, Babcock said in a statement that it would be manufacturing 10,000 Zephyr Plus ventilators, subject to regulatory approvals.

A shortage of ventilators to treat coronavirus patients with acute symptoms is seen as one of the major problems facing the NHS as it battles the pandemic.