Post-market modification of valves from AMBU bags (AMBU Inc, Columbia, MD, USA) may be more susceptible to failure during use compared with our use of commercial pressure regulators (produced under ISO standards). Our data do not cover the full range of clinical parameters. For our studies, inspiratory times were kept fixed, although in actual patients, inspiratory times may be intermittently adjusted. Furthermore, this scheme is not intended as a permanent solution for ventilating multiple patients, and should be used only with hospital administration approval and acknowledgement of the unique ethical considerations during a crisis (such as the COVID-19 pandemic). 11,12 Although the COVID-19 pandemic inspired our designs, it may have utility in other mass casualty scenarios such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and battlefield medicine. Future versions should aim to extend to more than two patients per ventilator. Declarations of interest GWF is a consultant for and on the speaker's bureau of Edwards LifeSciences. All other authors have no conflicts to declare. 4. Wang D, Hu B, Hu C, et al. Clinical characteristics of 138 hospitalized patients with 2019 novel coronavirusinfected pneumonia in Wuhan, China. JAMA 2020; 323: 1061e9 5. Neyman G, Irvin CB. A single ventilator for multiple simulated patients to meet disaster surge.

No benefit was seen from a prolonged infusion of dopexamine in this group of critically ill patients in terms of GIT absorption and permeability, creatinine clearance or organ dysfunction.

A case of acute haemorrhagic leucoencephalitis presenting as fatal septic encephalopathy is reported. The clinical features of this condition are reviewed and the potential for earlier diagnosis is considered.

Letters (two copies) must be typewritten on one side of the paper only and double spaced with wide margins. Copy should be prepared in the usual style and format of the Correspondence section. Authors must follow the advice about references and other matters contained in the Notice to Contributors to Anaesthesia printed at the back of each issue. The degree and diplomas of each author must be given in a covering letter personally signed by all the authors. Correspondence presented in any other style or format may be the subject of considerable delay and may be returned to the author for revision. If the letter comments on a published article in Anaesthesia, please send three copies; otherwise two copies of your letter will suffice.

The aim of National Anaesthesia Day on 25 May 2000 was to inform the public about the role and training of anaesthetists. We carried out two surveys of patients attending Derriford Hospital, Plymouth to assess the local impact of National Anaesthesia Day and to assess the public’s expectation of the preoperative visit. The first survey was held one month prior to National Anaesthesia Day and was completed by 93 patients. The second survey was held immediately following National Anaesthesia Day and was completed by 70 patients. Thirty five percent of the patients surveyed were unaware that anaesthetists were medically qualified. This result was not altered by National Anaesthesia Day despite a local information campaign. Moreover, knowledge about our role and training was only marginally improved from 1978. The majority of patients expected to see their anaesthetist preoperatively for less than 10 minutes and would not be concerned if they had not been seen one hour before surgery. Style of clothing was unimportant; few preferred a white coat but name badges were desirable. We conclude that the level of ignorance about our profession has not changed since 1978 and the impact of National Anaesthesia Day was not significant. This may be as a result of the anaesthetist’s portrayal on television, which is known to be an important source of public information on other areas of medicine. If these statistics are to change in the next 22 years new methods of public education need to be found.