UEA delivers 1,400 face visors to Norfolk hospitals with the help of the community

The University of East Anglia (UEA) has led a project involving a team of local businesses and individuals by creating face shields for the county’s health trusts.

Around 20 organisations in the region have come together to supply the university with the materials and labour to produce parts to assemble 1,400 of the face shields.

These have been delivered to Norfolk’s three major hospitals: Norwich and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), James Paget Hospital (JPH) in Great Yarmouth and Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King’s Lynn.

Over the past few weeks, businesses and individuals have delivered 3D printed parts, clear plastic and elasticated bands for the UEA to assemble the visors in the laboratories of its science building.

The UEA aims to distribute around 200 of the finished products every day to the NNUH, which will them deliver them to the other two hospitals.

Dr Mahmoud Abdelhamid, lecturer in chemical biology at the university, said: "This has truly been a collaborative effort and I’d like to thank every single one of the organisations that have assisted us in this project, as well as the UEA staff responsible for assembling the face shields. Without any one of you we simply would not have been able to have produced these shields in the quantities we have managed so far.

"We are trying to do everything we can to assist our colleagues in the NHS during this difficult time and, with the continued help of local organisations, we’re hoping to produce plenty more. However, the supply of materials at our disposal is not exhaustive so if you are able to help us with this in any way then please get in touch.”

Any organisations who may be able to assist with supplies for the visor project should contact business@uea.ac.uk.