CPAP can be used for type 1 respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia on a suitably adapted medical ward with novel solutions to enable safe monitoring.

In a negative pressure area with appropriate equipment, CPAP can be administered in an environment that minimises risk to staff.

Side rooms can be rapidly converted to negative pressure zones for AGPs using temporally installed ventilation equipment.

The use of relatively simple ventilation devices normally reserved for domiciliary CPAP can help reduce the hospital oxygen demand when compared with pressure valve-based CPAP options.

Close collaboration between medical specialties with support from critical care can enable the rapid development of new services in an unconventional setting.