WHAT’S NEW?
CULTURALLY-APPROPRIATE PPE LAUNCHED FOR MEDICAL AND
CARE PROFESSIONALS Contechs Medical, a division of the automotive design, engineering, and recruitment specialists Contechs, has developed a new range of culturally-appropriate PPE headwear to help protect the UK’s medical and care professionals from COVID-19.
Branded HairTech, the products are designed to allow people of all cultures and religions to feel comfortable whilst at work. Contechs Medical has produced two unique types of single- use PPE garments – a Hijab and a multi-hairstyle hat.
Expertly designed to allow access to ears for face mask and equipment application, the single-use multi-hairstyle hat is a one-piece design that features an elasticated forehead and neck to retain various hair styles.
Both HairTech products are easy to fit and remove. The hat is able to fully enclose hair and development is ongoing to cater for a variety of different hair lengths.
Contechs Medical’s HairTech Hijab design offers full neck and shoulder coverage and features wrap-around technology to allow for adjustable tailor fitment on head or neck shape. The one-piece design comprises two Velcro attachment points to compensate for necessary adjustments and also allows easy access to ears for face mask and equipment application.
As with the multi-hairstyle hat, the Hijab is for single-use only but can be developed using reusable material and fully recyclable.
User testing is now complete, receiving positive feedback for both garments by the University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB). Originally designed and developed for UHB, Contechs Medical is currently in the process of initially pushing the culturally bespoke PPE out to all of the Trusts within the West Midlands and is also planning to distribute nationally.
Established following the government’s call to arms for increased PPE supply in March last year, Contechs Medical manufactures protective products such as gowns, shrouds, masks, and face shields aſter a substantial investment in new production facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, and quality control systems.
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Pete Jarvis, Managing Director of Contechs, commented: “We quickly identified that culturally appropriate PPE – especially headgear – wasn’t available to those with religious or cultural beliefs. Indeed, this isn’t just limited to medical environments. It's the same for any situation where hair has to be covered, such as scientific research labs and food preparation areas, for example.
“Contechs’ innovative and forward-thinking approach therefore allowed us to diversify and expand our PPE products for medical and healthcare professionals across the UK.
“We’re proud to be supplying Britain’s brave key workers and medical staff with high-quality, culturally-appropriate protective equipment during their fight against the epidemic, making their working lives easier and making those with cultural or religious requirements feel more comfortable."
Simon Clarke, Managing Director of BHA Shared Procurement Services, has praised the company for their innovative and flexible approach.
Simon commented: “Contechs was one of the early adopters following a call from the West Midlands Combined Authority and University Hospital Birmingham Trust. It was a critical time when the Trusts were not receiving the necessary PPE to keep staff safe.
“Although new to the sector, Contechs was unfazed. Drawing upon their manufacturing prowess, they consistently pushed the boundaries. They were the first to come forward with a surgical gown design, the quality of which was far superior to that being used nationally and for which they have now received a CE mark.
“Now they are at the forefront of the development of a new range of PPE equipment to meet our cultural ethnicity requirements. It is quite astonishing that this need has not been catered for yet so it’s great to see companies such as Contechs applying an innovative and culturally sensitive approach to PPE in order to make medical and healthcare professionals feel more comfortable in the workplace.
“As a manufacturer, Contechs has gone above and beyond and has consistently demonstrated that, irrespective of the challenge ahead, they have the resilience and sustainability to meet the demands of the NHS.”
www.contechs.co.uk/medical - 17 -
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