Innovative personal respirator hoods deployed on Southampton hospital wards

Thousands of protective respirator hoods developed by researchers at the University of Southampton are being introduced to hospital wards for staff treating patients with COVID-19.

Experts in Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) worked with engineers, medical staff and industry partners to rapidly prototype the small portable units, consisting of a fabric hood which covers the wearer's head and a plastic visor to protect their face.

University Hospital Southampton is the first healthcare provider to widely introduce the pioneering respirator hood, which was developed into a prototype in just a week, then tested on wards and manufactured at scale in less than a month.

The first deliveries of a 5,000 unit order have arrived and are now subject to an initial clinical evaluation as a replacement for surgical masks in selected areas.

Professor Hywel Morgan, of ECS, said: "This is an excellent example of industry, universities and hospitals combining their expertise and answering the call to develop healthcare solutions for staff and patients in this crisis.

"We are really grateful to our partners at McLaren, Kemp Sails and INDO on behalf of Baynhams for their commitment in working around the clock with us to getting this from a concept to a working prototype in a matter of days."

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