School shielding NHS workers
AN ELLAND school is supporting the NHS in its efforts to fight the coronavirus crisis.
Brooksbank School, on Victoria Road, is producing PPE (personal protective equipment) visors for free to help keep front-line staff safe while treating patients. The project is lead by Ian Walker, a Technology teacher at Brooksbank, who alongside technician John Hendrick have made hundreds of visors, but have hit a snag after running out of plastic materials. Senior deputy head, Debbie Shutter said: “Ian and John made a prototype and then samples were given to John’s wife (a high-level nurse at Calderdale) to take to the hospital. “A further 60 visors were made, with 10 going to Stainland Road Surgery, 10 to Bankfield Surgery in Elland, and a box of 40 visors were delivered to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
“We’ve quickly ran out of plastic for the visors. “We’re now doing a call-out for any companies which can supply us with more plastic.” Mr Walker was inspired to help after seeing a company called Kitronik, which helped Nottingham’s local
NHS Trust by making visors. “Ian sent me this link and asked if we could get involved – and that he and other members of the technology team would be willing to come into school to make them,” said Mrs Shutter. “We received a message from a parent, the manager of Angel-Care UK Ltd requesting equipment. “Her’s was the story of the old lady who was very poorly and wanting to go home to die in peace and dignity. “Unfortunately the carers did not have the equipment to facilitate this. “We provided them with 10 visors. “Also, 26 visors went to BRI Respiratory Ward and 26 have been given to Calderdale A&E.” To help, email Mrs D Shutter on: dshutter@bbs.calderdale. sch.uk
We’re now doing a call-out for any companies which can supply us with more plastic.