Ricardo has delivered the first 2,000 of its purpose-designed protective face shields as part of its effort to support UK care homes and National Health Service (NHS) Trusts.
The shields are made to a Ricardo design and use the company’s experience assembly and supply chain management.
Local NHS doctors assisted the Ricardo design team by testing the new faceshield for comfort and wearability during extended periods.
The faceshield frames were manufactured by supply chain partner, Stephens Plastic Mouldings, using tooling co-funded jointly with Ricardo. To ensure the faceshields reach care home and NHS staff as quickly as possible, facilities at Ricardo’s Technical Centres at Shoreham by Sea in West Sussex and Leamington Spa, have been repurposed as assembly lines and logistics centres.
Ricardo worked with test provider, SATRA to secure fast-tracked evaluation of its protective faceshield to EN166. This enables the PPE to be NHS-approved for Covid-19 emergency use.
“We are delighted to have received a donation of 250 visors from Ricardo and would like to thank them for their kind donation,” said Hamberley Care Homes and Inspire Neurocare CEO, Paul Hill.
“The safety and well-being of our residents and staff is our highest priority and I’d like to take this opportunity say a huge thank you to our care teams for their continued dedication and commitment during this challenging time.”
For his part, Ricardo Automotive & Industrial MD, Stephen Dyke added: “The entire Ricardo team is committed to supporting our local communities in the fight against Covid-19. We are very proud to be able to help to protect those in the front line at care homes and in the NHS and it has been humbling for us to receive very positive feedback on our efforts to provide PPE to staff in these absolutely crucial roles.”
In addition to the supply of faceshields to care homes and the NHS, Ricardo announced earlier in the week it is assisting healthcare technology company, Isansys, which is facing an unprecedented demand for its patient monitoring systems amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ricardo is providing consultancy in supply chain development and manufacturing operations, with a view to enabling rapid scaling up of production.
Ricardo has also offered its services to government and healthcare providers on the rapid design or conversion of vehicles for use as ambulances and as other support vehicles.
The supplier has equally offered the use of some facilities for testing or as logistic centres.
