Will the Minister state what discussions the Welsh Government has had with 3D printing manufacturers to assist in urgently increasing the supply of eye protection for frontline NHS and social care staff?
We are calling on business and academia to play their part and contribute important innovative solutions that can help us control the spread of coronavirus and protect lives.
The response and offers of help has been extremely positive. Many Welsh companies and universities are now directly engaged in addressing specific challenges. This includes considerable activity in the production of visors/face shields using a variety of production methods, including 3D printing.
This is not the limit of our endeavours. Together, industry, academia and Welsh Government are collaborating to provide solutions on medical devices such as CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) ventilators, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), beds, mattresses and sheeting. This is coordinated daily with NHS Wales Procurement by a team comprised of Welsh Government, Industry Wales, the Life Sciences Hub in Cardiff and the Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory in Bridgend (SMTL). We are not merely relying on current supply routes but building alternatives where the demand cannot be met.