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Penicillin gave D-Day landings an unlikely boost, Churchill papers show

Sir Winston Churchill became increasingly frustrated over a lack of penicillin supplies in the weeks before D-Day, documents show
Sir Winston Churchill became increasingly frustrated over a lack of penicillin supplies in the weeks before D-Day, documents show (PA)
  • Newly released documents reveal that the D-Day landings were aided by the import of penicillin from America, as Britain struggled to produce sufficient quantities of the antibiotic.
  • Prime Minister Winston Churchill expressed frustration in handwritten notes over Britain's inability to produce enough penicillin for the Normandy landings in 1944, leading to increased reliance on American supplies.
  • Preparations for D-Day included decisions on the quantities of penicillin to import, dosage for patients, and training medical staff, as most British doctors were unfamiliar with its use.
  • By May 24, 1944, sufficient penicillin was available for treating battle casualties in Emergency Medical Services hospitals, but not for ordinary civilian patients.
  • Hospitals were instructed to administer penicillin to battlefield patients en route, with injections given at intervals of no more than five hours, marking treated patients with a yellow 'PEN' label; penicillin became fully available to the general public in 1946.
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