LONDON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Researchers believe intensive care units in Britain would not cope with the increased demand for beds and life-saving treatment during a pandemic.
The Intensive Care Society said this had not been taken into account by the British Department of Health when it published a contingency plan earlier this year, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Critical care capacity would be overwhelmed in even a mild outbreak occurred, the society said.
Overall in England, the researchers estimated there would be a daily peak hospital admission rate of 5,569 people and an expected total mortality of 36,745 people. They said the lack of intensive care facilities may mean the sickest patients do not receive the treatment they need.
Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson said the country has enough anti-viral drugs to treat 25 percent of the population in a pandemic.
The study of the Intensive Care Society was published in the journal Anaesthesia.
