F E A T U R E
F E A T U R E
SANITISER, MASKS AND MIKES RESEARCH EXPERTISE SUPPORTS NHS WORKERS Swansea University researchers have been using their technical expertise to support health and care workers during the coronavirus pandemic:
UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC CONCERN OVER CONTACT TRACING APP A study involving Swansea University researchers suggests that people are torn over whether they will use the Covid-19 contact tracing smartphone app. Roughly one-third of participants say they would not use the app. Many people are concerned that it will not protect users’ privacy or that it will not be used widely enough to make it effective. Many felt that they lacked enough information about the app or were misinformed about how it works. The research is a preliminary report published on medRxiv, a site used by researchers to share new findings on timely issues before they have been peer-reviewed for publication in a journal. It is led by Dr Simon Williams, Senior Lecturer in People and Organisation at Swansea University, in collaboration with Manchester University colleagues and an independent consultant at the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr Williams said: “Public support for, and use of, the app will ultimately determine whether the strategy succeeds or fails. Our study suggests that the government is far from guaranteed the level of support they need to have the kind of uptake that will make a big difference. A lot of work needs to be done to build public confidence and trust in their handling of Covid-19, and to improve communication around the app. We recommend that government should communicate as clearly as possible and using a variety of media. They should switch to a de-centralised approach, focus on reassuring the public over privacy, and promote the key message that using the app is part of a collective responsibility to stop the spread of the virus and can help save lives.”
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Face shields to protect NHS staff were designed and 3D printed by a team from the College of Engineering, supported by ASTUTE 2020 from the Future Manufacturing Research Institute, the Accelerate Healthcare Technology Centre and the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating. After working around the clock, they manufactured an open- source Prusa design for the shield, adding neoprene foam and a wide elastic strap. The visors were sent out to local hospitals for testing and feedback, which the team used to improve the design. The visors have been awarded the CE safety mark, which means they can now be manufactured at larger scale.
Swansea University’s Healthcare Technology Centre has helped develop an award-winning communication aid for frontline health staff forced to wear face masks during the pandemic. The Centre was part of the Welsh-based team behind MaskComms, a microphone designed to be small enough to fit inside a face mask and transmit voice through wireless to a wearable loudspeaker. It means a group of healthcare professionals wearing masks can communicate easily in the hospital environment, such as in an operating theatre during a surgical procedure. The project has won an £8,000 grant at this year’s Welsh Health Hack which aims to stimulate innovation and encourage collaboration between NHS Wales, industry and academia.
Staff at a Swansea surgery with the University-produced sanitiser
A team of 30 volunteers from three of the University’s colleges produced thousands of litres of hand sanitiser, adapting a production line normally used for solar technology. The sanitiser, which meets the standard set by the World Health Organization, is being used by the NHS, housing and care providers, and a dozen local schools. Manufacturing was led by SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre, who specialise in solar research and design, and who have expertise in chemical processing. The team adapted and invented as they went along. They devised a multi-head bottling apparatus which can fill a 5L bottle in 20 seconds rather than 60 seconds. They worked closely with local manufacturers to procure the vast quantities of ingredients needed to produce thousands of litres of sanitiser.
The mask communication aid
8 | Momentum: Research News from Swansea University
Momentum: Research News from Swansea University | 9
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