NHS medical teams on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus have said a huge thank you to the pupils and staff at Ladybridge School for using 3D technology to make PPE ­— personal protective equipment ­—for them.

The Bolton News revealed the school is using its cutting edge technology to produce face visors for medics struggling to obtain PPE.

This week 60 such visors were assembled and sent off to medics ­— including at the Royal Bolton Hospital ­—who have sent in video messages of thanks to the pupils and staff.

The videos highlighted how the face visors would protect staff and patients.

The Bolton News:

Boundary House Medical Centre posted: “Thank you so much for your help and support with making these face visors.

“Ladybridge High School you are awesome, saving lives, well done.”

One doctor, Dr Jasmin at the practice showed the PPE they had and said: Thank you so so much for helping to make the visors.

“As you can see, this is what we are currently wearing and it doesn’t cover our eyes or the rest of our face, so the visors that you are providing will help that, will help protect us and everyone else that we see."

The Bolton News:

Dr Paul Jackson from Boundary House Medical Centre said: “Thank you so much to the LadyBridge High School team for manufacturing and delivering our face shields. They will be a vital part of the protective equipment needed for our health and social care staff in the coming weeks as we encounter more cases of the Covid-19 virus in the community.”

Dr Emma Finan from Chorley said: “Thank you so much for making these wonderful visors for us, they really will help protect us.”

The Bolton News:

Headteacher Patrick Russell said: “It is brilliant that our staff and learners have been producing visors for the NHS.  This started when Phil Cotton, who is our Head of Technology and Art, saw a Facebook post from a GP asking if anyone would be able to make visors for his surgery using a 3D Printer. 

"Phil quickly found out how to make the visors and got to work straight away.  The learners who remain in school, who are children of key workers, have been helping Phil and other Ladybridge staff to make the visors over the last few days. 

"Sixty visors have been produced already and have been sent to GP surgeries across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. 

"Twenty visors have been sent to Bolton Royal Hospital today."  

He added: "Phil has been inundated with requests over recent days.  We promoted this on social media last weekend and a number of other schools across the UK are now making the visors.  Currently, demand is outstripping supply so the more schools and other organisations that can help the better.  We are keen to share the files of instructions with other organisations to enable NHS staff get the protection they need.

"This is a great example of how technology can be used to improve and save lives. It also demonstrates how powerful real world learning can be for young people."

Mr Russell said: "Learning really can transform lives!  The visors project shows our commitment to developing good citizens who seek to improve the lives of others, as well as tasting success for themselves."