Holby City donates working ventilators to the NHS – but fans are astonished soap owns real machinery worth thousands

HOLBY City has donated fully working ventilators from the set of the popular medical soap to the new NHS Nightingale Hospital in London amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

The show's executive producer Simon Harper said: "We are only too happy to help out and do what we can for the courageous and selfless real-life medics."

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A tweet posted by the BBC showed the high-tech kit arriving at the vast site, formerly known as the ExCeL exhibition centre, with the caption: "Fully operational ventilators from the Holby City set arrived at the new Nightingale Hospital yesterday."

However, many were astonished that the show owned a set of working ventilators - which cost thousands of pounds - assuming they would be using props.

One viewer asked: "Why does a TV set have fully operational ventilators? Does it have fully qualified nurses too who moonlight as actresses?"

Another wrote: "No way! I never dreamt you actually used real working equipment! Brilliant."

A third pointed out: "I expect making a pretend ventilator that looks realistic complete with a working screen is impossible. It will be cheaper to buy one."

The new NHS Nightingale hospital in east London was created in nine days to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic and can offer up to 4,000 beds.

The UK has faced a shortage of ventilators, with only 8,000 in the NHS.

As for Holby City, it was revealed last week that the soap will go off air after Tuesday's episode and is not expected to return until later in the year.

Viewers can expect an action-packed temporary farewell from the show, which will follow the aftermath of John Michie's shocking return as Guy Self.

Last month the BBC decided to put six of their most popular shows filming on hold - including Holby City, Casualty, EastEnders and Doctors.

A BBC spokeswoman told the Sun Online: "In light of the spread of Covid-19, after much consideration, it has been decided that filming on all BBC Studios continuing dramas will be postponed until further notice.