A NEW type of ventilator which helps patients breathe more naturally and recover more quickly from surgery is now being used by the trust which oversees Watford General Hospital and St Albans City Hospital.

More than £107,000 has been invested in six new Puritan Bennett 980 ventilators which are based in Watford’s intensive care unit.

The state-of-the-art equipment helps to strengthen patients’ lungs and speeds up the time it takes for them to come off ventilation. Traditionally, ventilators determine the length and depth of the breath patients take.

However, these ventilators allow a personal setting for each patient and they are driven by the patient’s own ability to breathe.

The ventilator also protects patients when their lungs are vulnerable by purifying the air that they take in. This is done through a new filtration system unique to the design.

Chief Executive of West Herts NHS Health Trust Samantha Jones said: "It’s important that hospitals have the latest technology to treat their patients.

"We have invested heavily in new equipment over the last couple of years, as well as on upgrading our wards, clinics and other areas. It is great to have these new ventilators for our intensive care unit. They will make a massive difference to both our patients and staff."

Alison East, the matron for the intensive care unit, said: "I am absolutely delighted we have these new ventilators. They are the latest design and will help our patients to start breathing on their own much quicker, which, in turn, will help them to get better sooner.

"Our intensive care unit is very busy and we look after patients who are extremely unwell. Being able to invest in the newest equipment is great news for our patients."