10 Anaesthetic Machines Transported from Devon to Ukraine to Support Critical Care Treatment

A convoy led by the charity the World Extreme Medicine Fund (WEMF) has successfully delivered 10 anaesthetic machines from Devonto Kropyvnytski Hospital in Ukraine, helping support intensive care treatment for patients suffering severe infection and trauma-related complications caused by war injuries.

The machines, kindly donated by the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as part of a rolling replacement programme, travelled more than 1,800 miles across Europe before safely arriving in Ukraine in May.

The delivery was coordinated through a collaboration between Royal Devon University Healthcare, WEMF, Somerset Aid for Ukraine, and WEMF’s Ukrainian partner Stepan Skobenyuk, who previously worked on humanitarian operations within Ukraine and is now based in Somerset.

Founded by Professor Mark Hannaford, from Devon and Luca Alfatti, WEMF has continued to support frontline and humanitarian medical initiatives throughout the Ukraine conflict, combining operational medicine expertise with practical logistics and invaluable field deployment experience.

This project also reflects the growing connection between Devon-based healthcare, education and operational medicine networks. Alongside the support from Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, World Extreme Medicine also delivers the MSc in Extreme Medicine in partnership with the University of Exeter, helping further strengthen the region’s role in advancing global and humanitarian medical education.

While the equipment is no longer required within Devon’s hospital network, the machines remain fully functional and will now help establish intensive care capability for patients suffering sepsis and complex wound infections linked to conflict injuries. The initiative forms part of a wider Memorandum of Understanding between Royal Devon University Healthcare and Kropyvnytski Hospital, supported by the UK Department of Health and Social Care, focused on medical collaboration, shared expertise, and healthcare resilience.
Future plans include Ukrainian clinicians visiting Devon to share experiences and clinical learning around trauma medicine and mass casualty care.

Health Innovation and Safety Minister, Preet Kaur Gill, commented:
“The dedication shown by Royal Devon University Hospitals Trust, the World Extreme Medicine Fund, and all the partners involved in getting these lifesaving machines to Ukraine is truly remarkable.”

“Through our International Medical Partnerships initiative, we're not only supporting Ukrainian clinicians to get the equipment they need while working under the most extraordinary pressures — we're also building lasting relationships that will benefit patients in both our countries for generations to come.”