WARRINGTON Hospital has cut death rates and improved the speed of coronavirus patients’ recoveries by adapting machines usually used to combat sleeping disorders.

Doctors at the Lovely Lane site have modified ‘black boxes’ ordinarily used to help sleep apnoea patients with their breathing as an alternative to ventilating those being treated for Covid-19.

Medics say this practice is less ‘intrusive and invasive’, and leads to a quicker recovery rate.

Consultant Dr Mark Forrest told Sky News: “We watched very closely what was happening in other countries, in particular Italy, and learned from them.

“Like with so many things in life, prevention is better than a cure.

“If we can keep them away from the ventilator then that’s got to be good news, because it’s so difficult to ventilate.”

Warrington Hospital normally has access to only 12 intensive therapy unit ventilators, but five older machines were reserviced and seven more were recommissioned from the trust’s critical care transport equipment.

These ventilators involve a breathing pipe being inserted into the throat and the patient being put under anaesthetic, with some only having a 50/50 chance of survival.

But the adapted black boxes stabilise patients quickly, sometimes seeing a ‘positive reaction’ within 15 minutes.

Hundreds of patients who have been admitted to the hospital have benefitted from the innovation, which was first tested on members of staff.

Harold Thomson, who was admitted alongside wife Christine on Saturday after the pair tested positive for coronavirus, is among those who have used the adapted equipment.

The 64-year-old was admitted to intensive care upon his arrival at the hospital, but was well enough to be discharged only five days later.

He said: “I didn’t think I’d be leaving, I was that bad – I really thought I wouldn't be going home”

Meanwhile, Christine was being cared for elsewhere in the hospital.

She added: “We were both so poorly we couldn’t look after each other at home – we just couldn’t get down the stairs to eat.

“I said goodbye to him, and I wasn't sure if I'd ever see him again.

“The staff have been incredible – I hope now that the government sees the worth of the NHS and realises that, if they hadn't cut services so much, we would have been better prepared.”