A hospital trust has purchased new “life-saving” equipment which will reduce trauma to unconscious patients who need help breathing.

The Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT), which covers King George Hospital in Goodmayes and Queen’s Hospital in Romford, last week unveiled the five video laryngoscopes, worth more than £50,000. 

Patients who are on a critical care unit, unconscious, or requiring a general anaesthetic may need a tube to be placed into their throat to help them breathe.

The video laryngoscope’s digital camera shows a clear image of the airways on a monitor.

This helps staff to make sure the tube is in exactly the right place, reducing the risk of trauma to the airways, lack of oxygen, and even brain damage.

The King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity funded the project through donations and staff fundraising.

The charity, which hopes to improve the experience of patients, last month raised funds by releasing a single Merry Christmas Everyone inspired by the Shakin' Stevens 1981 classic.

Youcef Sennoun, consultant anaesthetist at BHRUT, said the equipment is potentially life-saving.

He said: “The video laryngoscope is a great step towards safer tracheal intubation and will improve patient care.

“It allows early control of the airways, prevents patients from undergoing repeated traumatic attempts at intubation, and more importantly in certain cases it could avoid asphyxia, brain damage and death.”

The trust remains in special measures and with debt last year rerported as £40m.

To find out more about the charity, please visit: www.supportyourhospital.org