Supplying PPE and helping the city’s disadvantaged
THE impact of Covid-19 affected every layer of society, here in Portsmouth and further afield.
However, it also triggered community spirit and support for each other, as epitomised by Captain Sir Tom Moore, the then 99-year-old army veteran who walked 100 laps of his garden to raise money for the NHS.
As cases of the virus soared, businesses rallied to help the NHS and care home workers with the supply of PPE.
BAE Systems donated more than 150,000 face shields to medical facilities and services across the UK.
A total of 25,000 of these face shields were provided to frontline staff working at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and Southampton General Hospital, as well as to local charities such as Chaos Support, an independent organisation for people with learning disabilities.
Even Countdown star
Carol Vorderman donated the use of her private plane so that BAE Systems could deliver essential PPE around the country, including Portsmouth.
The government plea to ramp up the production of ventilators saw BAE Systems employees develop the innovative new AirCare ventilator from scratch, with the manufacturing team at Broad Oak in Hilsea working round the clock in an extraordinary effort to meet the challenge.
Thankfully, the NHS ultimately didn’t need these extra ventilators, but those employees involved remain proud to have brought their skills to this potentially lifesaving project.
In addition, more than 2,000 ‘door claws’ were manufactured to a design from wind turbine company Vestas in BAE Systems’
Broad Oak and Cowes facilities using 3D printing technology.
The ‘door claws’ allowed staff in care homes and medical centres to open doors without touching door handles, thereby limiting the spread of Covid-19, another example of how, by using their collective skills and resources, industry responded to the pandemic in a bid to keep people safe.
And as 2020 draws to a close, Christmas will also be very different this year, especially for the most disadvantaged in our city.
Which is why Hive Portsmouth’s ‘Comfort and Joy’ campaign is being supported by BAE Systems, one of the largest companies in Portsmouth, home to many of its employees.