University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) senior lecturers Gaynor Thomas and Beverley Holland are making scrubs for healthcare staff at Swansea Bay University Health Board as part of the “For The Love of Scrubs” project.
Gaynor and Beverley from the University’s Wales Institute of Science and Art who both teach computing at UWTSD’s SA1 Swansea Waterfront campus, decided to act to support healthcare workers at local hospitals and care homes tackling the coronavirus crisis after seeing a Facebook support group online.
The pair, working independently from their own homes, used their Easter break to make scrubs tops, trousers, caps, laundry bags and masks, some of which have already been donated to Morriston and Singleton Hospitals and they have received pictures from grateful staff wearing the items.
Gaynor said: “Outside my university work, I also make quilts for children for a charity called Love Quilts UK. I saw the ‘For The Love of Scrubs’ project on Facebook and knew I wanted to help. My mum is a talented seamstress, so I called her on Skype and she talked me through the process.”
The University’s print room under the expert guidance of Paul Jones, came to the rescue by printing patterns for Gaynor to use.
She said: “These were dropped off in my garden and thanks to some quilt covers I already had and local donations of material, my sewing machine has been going non-stop! To see the pictures of staff wearing the items has been fantastic.
“We welcome our students back on Monday, so I’ll be busy making sure their on-line learning is ready for their studies to continue. But I’ll be able to continue making scrubs during the evenings and at weekends.”
Beverley said she already did a lot of sewing in her spare time as her daughter dances and she had been making costumers for her daughter and her friends.
“The Facebook group had also caught my eye and I wanted to be able to help our local hospitals in this way,” she said.
“The first wave of my scrubs is being picked up today by a volunteer and will be delivered to Morriston Hospital. Like Gaynor, I want to keep going and will be working at weekends and when I can to help further.”
Professor Ian Walsh, Provost of UWTSD’s Swansea Campus said: “It’s both humbling and inspiring to see how our dedicated staff have given up their Easter break and answered the call to provide essential resources to our NHS at this time of national need. We couldn’t be more proud of their hard work.”
Across UWTSD Staff and students are using their innovative skills, knowledge and research to help the NHS and local communities to fight coronavirus.
The University is providing intensive support for a newly established consortium – SWARM (The South Wales Additive and Rapid Manufacturing Consortium) in its mission to support NHS Wales’ Covid-19 response.
A dedicated team of Designers and Engineers from ATiC (Assistive Technologies Innovation Centre) and CBM (Centre for Batch Manufacturing) at UWTSD is working around the clock on a number vital project to support NHS front line delivery. The University has also put its Advanced Manufacturing Academy on standby to provide whatever support is necessary.
Nursing studies and professional healthcare students from the University’s Institute of Management and Health are providing front line care to patients in hospitals and the care sector in south West Wales.
Spare equipment has been donated to local hospitals and university accommodation is providing temporary homes and childcare facilities to key health care workers.
