A UNIVERSITY of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) partnership is supporting a group of designers as they produce essential personal protective equipment (PPE) for health staff dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

A 3D printer, usually used by engineering students at Inverness College UHI, has been loaned to a group of creatives making vital face shields for NHS Highland following a reported shortage. The 3D print for Covid-19 Highlands group has launched a crowdfunding appeal to enable them to buy materials.

Jewellery designer Karen-Ann Dicken, an art and design lecturer at the college, is one of the group, which has met with NHS Highland to identify the local requirements.

She said: “We originally came together as a community group on Facebook and we now have between five and 10 creatives across the Highlands currently printing face shields for NHS staff.

“The addition of this much larger 3D printer will mean we can print a greater number of visors more quickly, which is fantastic. It’s important we all do what we can to help.”

The partnership is also supporting NHS services by contributing scientific expertise, laboratory facilities and teaching equipment. Discussions are ongoing regarding the use of residences for essential workers, should they be required.

Dicken’s fellow lecturer Ken Gowans is involved in designing and printing instruction manuals to help NHS staff assemble the visors and acetate shields.

Professor Chris O’Neil, principal of Inverness College UHI, said: “It is well reported that there isn’t enough PPE for NHS staff, who are risking their lives every day to save others.

“I am incredibly proud of our lecturing staff who have stepped up to help this cause, and that we can support this effort in our own way by loaning this piece of vital equipment.

“As a university partnership, our communities are critical, and we’re determined to do all we can to support them at this time.”

Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. It’s no exaggeration to say that the future of The National is at stake. Please consider supporting us through this with a digital subscription from just £2 for 2 months by following this link: http://www.thenational.scot/subscribe. Thanks – and stay safe.