More than 100,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) have been made for frontline healthcare workers by staff at the University of Bath since the coronavirus pandemic hit the city in March.
A 60-strong team from the Faculty of Engineering & Design and across other departments have been making face shields and other PPE for use by staff at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust (RUH) since it approached the university early days of the outbreak.
The university’s engineering and manufacturing knowhow was immediately harnessed in the collaborative project with the RUH to produce face shields, eye protectors and ear-saving ‘ladders’, which are used with face coverings and save wearers from having to hook elastic around their ears.
A parallel effort with Bath Spa University and local volunteer sewists has been producing medical gowns.
All the equipment produced has been designed to meet the highest standards. The face shields have also achieved BSI certification following rigorous safety tests, ensuring wearers are protected from airborne particles and droplets that could carry the coronavirus.
RUH Trust interim chief executive Libby Walters said: “We continue to be incredibly grateful to the University of Bath, and Bath Spa University too, for their support.
“The face shields and gowns that have been produced for the RUH, free of charge, have helped to keep our frontline staff safe while they care for some of our most seriously ill patients.”
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Design Prof Gary Hawley added: “The efforts to set up and continue this vital work to support our local essential services in their time of need have been nothing short of Herculean, and the whole project highlights the capability and community spirit that are inherent in our staff.
“I’d like to pay tribute to the people from around the university and the volunteers who’ve helped produce PPE, and give our sincere thanks to the local individuals, business and donors who have supported in a number of ways, from funding and materials to food and drinks to keep the team fuelled up during their shifts.”
All the equipment made so far has gone to the RUH, local GPs, dentists, hospices and care homes. However, the production team is now making its face shields available to all local healthcare staff.
Department of Mechanical Engineering lecturer Dr Alexander Lunt, who has been involved in the effort since it began, said: “We’ve reached the point where we are able to offer face shields to anyone in a healthcare role who can collect them from the university.”
Any healthcare professional interested in face shields produced by the team should email medicalfaceshields@gmail.com to discuss their needs. As the university campus remains closed to the public, collections can be made by prior arrangement only.
The team has also been nominated in the Creativity for Good category at the Creative Bath Awards, which take place at the end of August.
The Bath PPE website – www.bathppe.co.uk – has updates on the project as well as guidelines for other groups with materials and technical expertise on how to make the equipment.
