Netherlee man raises £3000 to create face shields for frontline staff at a Glasgow hospital

Martin Rourke had originally set out with a target of raising £300 but donations on his Crowdfunding page are now just short of £3000.

Martin said the support had been “amazing”.

“I’ve been printing all day trying to maximise the output from the printers,” he said. “I originally intended to use the funding to feed the two printers I already had, but with the huge generosity from everyone I have personally purchased and donated another printer to feed and increase the capacity.”

Martin continued: “As you will know the NHS is already stretched both in terms of staff and supplies and it’s crucial that we help where we can to alleviate some of that pressure.

“Having personally been in the hospital a few times over the past few years I can only praise the NHS staff and want to give something back if I can.”

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been in great demand, with many stories emerging of NHS and other health care services finding themselves struggling to protect their frontline staff.

“I have started using my 3D printers to create face shields that are an essential piece of protective equipment used by medical staff and professionals at the hospital so they can try to stop the spread of the coronavirus,” explained Martin.

The first batch of face shields was delivered to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital last week and Martin plans to keep the deliveries going as fast as he can print them.

He’s looking for support to find the raw materials that are used to create the shields.

Alternatively, people can make a purchase on Amazon and arrange delivery – anyone doing so can reach out to him directly on Facebook.

There is more information, and the opportunity to donate, at his Just Giving page – Printed Face Shields for the NHS