Media Release
Date: 24 April 2020
RUH thanks local universities for their expertise and support
The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust has thanked the city's two universities for boosting its supply of vital personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers.
The equipment, including gowns and face shields, is being used daily by staff caring for patients with COVID-19.
A team based at the University of Bath's Faculty of Engineering and Design have so far provided more than 30,000 pieces of PPE to the RUH and GPs, and with the help of B&NES Council, to care homes and pharmacies. Equipment has also been shared with Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Trust to allow staff there to continue to work safely.
Meanwhile the University of Bath and Bath Spa University have teamed up with local volunteers to make medical gowns for RUH staff.
Using a pattern created by engineers from the University of Bath, in conjuction with the RUH, local sewists from the Scrubs For The NHS Bath group have started stitching together gowns at Bath Spa University's Sion Hill campus.
The RUH has supplied them with the specific material that gowns must be made from to effectively protect medical staff. The team, who have already begun work from their homes, currently have enough material to create around 4,000 gowns.
Lisa Cheek, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the RUH, said: "We are receiving PPE supplies through the national NHS supply chain, but we are very lucky here in Bath to also have the support of our wider community, to help boost our supplies of key items.
"In particular, we have been working closely with our local universities, the University of Bath and Bath Spa University. They have been using their skills and expertise to provide us with disposable visors and fluid resistant gowns, as well as providing innovative solutions to making PPE more comfortable for our staff to wear.
"We are really grateful for their support during this challenging time."
The RUH has stringent specifications and processes that need to be followed to ensure that any donations of PPE are of the necessary quality for staff. Please contact us before you make any donations - email ruh-tr.ruhresilience@nhs.net, or call 01225 824850 with your name and email address.