The deal was supported by funding from Danske Bank.

Operating Room Systems specialises in the supply of surgical equipment and associated consumables to hospitals and private clinics across Ireland and the UK.

The company does not normally supply respiratory equipment but stepped in after the Health Service procurement division, the Business Services Organisation, discovered an order placed with another supplier would take between 14 to 16 weeks to arrive due to high demand in other parts of the world.

Operating Room Systems was able to use a contact at Hong Kong-based Vincent Medical to purchase and secure fast delivery of 300 O2FLO high flow respiratory units, which are used for patients who are out of Intensive Care and don’t need a ventilator but still require oxygen to aid recovery.

The first 100 high flow oxygen units were delivered in just over two weeks and have been installed in hospitals across Northern Ireland, with the remaining 200 arriving this weekend.

Danske Bank approved an overdraft extension of £700,000 to enable the transaction to go ahead.

David Haslett, Director at Operating Room Systems, said: “We were responding to a need in the system and were pleased to be able to use our contacts to ensure these products could be delivered now, when the need is greatest. The equipment will also be very useful in future for patients with COPD and other respiratory problems.

“Danske Bank did a wonderful job for us. I made the call to our relationship manager on a Sunday morning two weeks ago and they approved the extension of our overdraft facility within 24 hours, enabling us to pay for the order in full in advance, as required by the manufacturer. It provides a timely boost to our own business at a time when most surgery has been postponed.”

Raymond Geddis, Business Banking Manager at Danske Bank’s Belfast Business Centre said: “Operating Room Systems has an excellent reputation in the health sector and it is to the company’s credit that they stepped out of their usual product areas and used their global contacts to secure this equipment at a time of intense need for the health service. We were delighted to be able to provide the funding required to secure this essential order.”