UK hospitals started monitoring oxygen levels at home for Covid-19 patients

Happy hypoxia is a worrying condition which has been affecting coronavirus patients. Some patients are absolutely fine and apparently not in distress but have oxygen levels so low they would normally be unconsciousness or even dead.

Medics raised the alarm that many people were getting to hospital too late and should be brought in much sooner. NHS England started a pilot scheme giving patients devices that could monitor their oxygen levels at home.

The pilot is underway in 11 hospital trusts where some Covid-19 patients and at-risk patients are being given a kit at home containing oximeters.

The oximeter is a very simple device which clips on your finger and gives you a quick and easy reading of oxygen levels in your blood. The results are sent via an App to the doctor who keeps an eye on them. If the levels get to a certain point, the doctor will call you in the hospital.

Sir Simon Stevens, the head of NHS England, says medics and the NHS are learning new things about this virus all the time. As more information emerges, the way the NHS works is changing.

Adapted from: https://www.itv.com/news/2020-06-05/lifesaving-device-trialed-for-potent...