We continue to be overwhelmed by the support offered by local communities and businesses across Fife, particularly with regards to personal protective equipment (PPE).
The Health Board is receiving regular supplies of PPE through the national procurement arrangements and a number of local businesses have kindly donated certified FFP3 masks and other items to support us in responding to covid-19 in Fife.
A number of private individuals have also offered donations of items made using 3D printers, including small plastic clips to improve the comfort of the masks worn by healthcare staff. These clips have proven to be particularly useful and are not subject to the same medical device regulations as face masks and visors as they are not considered personal protective equipment.
These clips might seem insignificant but make a world of difference to staff using masks in our clinical areas - the masks can become uncomfortable as they have to be tightly fitted in order to provide the necessary levels of protection, with many of those wearing them doing so for much of the day.
If you have a 3D printer and wish to help us with this, the design file is available here:
We have had a variety of donations of visors made locally using 3D printers – these are crucial pieces of protective equipment for staff and must meet the safety requirements of official medical device regulations.
Importantly, we continue to have sufficient supplies of certified face visors for all healthcare staff who require them.
