Halifax school make visors for hospitals to battle Covid-19

Brooksbank School, on Victoria Road, is designing and making PPE (personal protective equipment) visors for free to help keep front-line staff safe while treating patients.

The brain behind the project is 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: "On April 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.

"On Tuesday 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.

"56 were then made on Wednesday, but we've quickly ran out of plastic for the visors.

"We're doing anything we can to help, but 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, who were helping 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.

"On Wednesday 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 on Wednesday 26 visors went to BRI Respiratory Ward and 26 have been given to Calderdale A&E.

"The team comprises of Ian, John, Karen Robertshaw and Natalie Wills.

"We really want to continue making the visors – and the demand is very high, but we’re running out of materials – hence the Twitter campaign."

If you like to donate, or help in any way, email Mrs D Shutter on: [email protected]