Rugbeians come together to make masks for NHS and care home staff - can you help?

A team of Rugbeians has come together to manufacture 3D-printed masks for NHS and care home staff, and they are asking anyone who might be able to help to get in touch.

At least one care home in Rugby has five cases of Covid-19, and there is a very limited supply of personal protection equipment (PPE) for staff.

Keith Edgar, a local GP, is working with a teaching assistant from a local school, a retired engineer and a team from Coventry University to produce face visors using 3D printers.

They use the printers to manufacture the head band and attach clear acetate sheets to cover the face.

Keith has tried this and it works well in adding to the protection of a mask.

The Friends of St Cross joined the team last week and appealed to their volunteers and supporters for help with the project.

They have already recruited another school team and sourced a supply of some of the raw materials, using donations from some generous supporters which were specifically donated for the purpose.

Willy Goldschmidt, chairman of the Friends said: “It was great to have the opportunity to support the community in this way.

"Many of our volunteers, who are not in any of the vulnerable categories, have offered to support the hospital and some of them will help to distribute the output of the face visor project to local care homes and community nurses.

"What we need now is to enlist anyone who can 3D print.

"We can help them get started on this vital work to help the community stay safe.”

Dr Edgar said: “We fully respect the efforts that are underway to ensure that the NHS front line staff in critical care have the PPE that they need.

"Our aim is to do what we can to improve the provision in the community while awaiting the supply from the NHS.”

Please email [email protected] if you can help in any way.