John Sherbourne

Martyn Gray works for Anaesthesia Technology Ltd a company that designs medical devices. Here Martyn describes how with the help encouragement of friends here at MBC he and his colleagues set about responding to the government’s urgent call for help. 

Looking back now, mid March was a surreal time.  Saturday 14^th March was the first Saturday without sport and BBC 5 Live had turned the day over to a COVID-19 phone in.  I was listening to it in the background, two professors called in with slightly different views on the disease and then an anaesthetist called in to point out that it wasn’t just intensive care beds that were required if the worst happened.  At that moment the word ventilator became the buzzword.  On Sunday morning Rt Hon. Matt. Hancock announced that Rolls Royce and JCB were going to make ventilators, a surprise to all that work in the medical device industry.

We had a project in waiting, to add gas supply and patient airway monitoring to a resuscitator, a device that can be used to help people breathe or in its automatic mode breathe for them.  It is a simple device to use, supplied to our ambulances and emergency helicopters for patient transfer and in developing countries frequently used as a ventilator.  Following Matt Hancock’s announcement we quickly pulled a team together.  The resuscitator is manufactured wholly in the UK which was important because obtaining components from abroad was becoming very difficult, the mechanical design of the monitor and regulatory compliance would be managed by a second company and we would design the monitor’s electronics and software.

On the Monday 15^th March we sent a short specification to No 10.  Rolls Royce announced to the media that they didn’t make ventilators and we got a call from a JCB director who said similar but that they would provide whatever help they could and he provided some contact numbers.  The government arranged for consultants to coordinate the technical effort, advice from clinicians was being sought and over nine or ten days we had to work through a dozen ventilator specifications – each an update of the previous one.  At the start the requirements were minimal but as we learned more about treating the disease the technical requirements became more detailed. 

It became clear that the virus was very contagious and with the issues around supply of PPE there was a requirement to reduce clinical staff involvement with patients to a minimum.  We decided to add remote monitoring to our device.  My consultant in this field was John Duffy who had become well acquainted with the “internet of things.” With John’s up to date knowledge we were able add the WiFi functionality to our device.  With rapid prototyping of the case in Germany and fast turnaround of the electronics, by the 10^th April we had a fully functioning prototype ready for mass production.  A team of software engineers in Serbia developed central monitoring software so that data from up to 50 monitors could be displayed on a single remote computer.

At work we could supply gas to the resuscitator for it to drive a lung simulator for testing and calibration of the system,   whilst working at home the equipment was limited but I was able to use my son’s leading edge ventilator simulator.

We have supplied 150 systems to the Manchester Nightingale but I do not believe that they have been required.  We are now getting enquiries from countries that lack the healthcare infrastructure that we have, places where our system may be a lifeline for some but even if it isn’t used for the pandemic it will be used when life returns to normal.

As well as John’s technical input it was both useful and encouraging to get clinical information from two other MBC members, Claire Taylor (consultant respiratory physician) and Paddy Colling (consultant anaesthetist) both working at the front end throughout.

Meanwhile Professor Phil Coates who is director of The Polymer Interdisciplinary Research Centre, a world class research laboratory at the University of Bradford has two COVID-19 projects running.

The first involves the design and precision mass production of face visors in conjunction with Leeds company ActiveCell Ltd (who were making 3d printed visors).  The Bradford Team developed an injection mouldable solution. This offers significant advantages over 3D printing, with better surface finishes for skin contact; significantly improved process repeatability; better geometric accuracy; significantly higher volume production rates; and lower cost. 

The final design was created, based on successful candidate 3D printed designs, but with key enhancement: low cost; compatibility with regulatory frameworks for optical safety devices; improved comfort; hooks for surgical masks to relieve ear pressure; and the ability to quickly and easily be completely disassembled into its component parts to enable sterilisation for either reuse or recycling. 

This is a key feature, as many of the existing devices used in the NHS use expandable foams and adhesives to join components which, while cheap, cannot be sterilised so all visors must be incinerated after use.  The Bradford visor is also designed for use in workplaces as people return to work, so a recyclable option will dramatically reduce the requirement for incineration and the volume of material for landfill.  In addition, the device can be supplied as a flat pack solution that can be quickly assembled, which requires much less storage space than existing solutions.

In 5 weeks the team moved from design and prototype to full production.  The device is now approved by a PPE test centre.  We produce up to 4,800 devices per day and manufacture of an initial order of a batch of 30,000 components is underway.  CE marking is being completed and further orders of 400,000+ devices are in negotiation.

Initial press releases:

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/health/coronavirus/yorkshire-university-makes-thousands-face-shields-nhs-2856507;

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18463623.university-bradford-engineers-team-make-visors/?ref=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter  

The second piece of work is an antiviral materials project, again coordinated by Phil, which started a couple of weeks ago. A novel polymer has been synthesised by our chemists, which may have a similar virus killing action to soap, but with good properties for coating PPE or making devices. 

Coated samples are being manufactured in our laboratory, and are due for antiviral testing at two centres next week – if this shows promise it could clearly be very significant, by removing or reducing virus contamination on treated articles, or lengthening usage time of PPE items such as gloves, masks, visors and gowns.

AN UPDATE FROM PHIL:

Just heard that CE marking of our visor is now completed, that crucially opens up NHS and other supply lines. Also, after a meeting this morning (Thursday) our antiviral materials project now has Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Lancaster University undertaking the testing for us, starting next week.

At its peak there were 73 separate devices tuned into Tuesday evening’s Zoom Church Meeting. Based on that figure a rough calculation tells us that means that there would have been somewhere in the region of 100 to 110 different people on line.

Co-hosted by Shona and Graham the 90 minute meeting included a discussion, with breakout group feedback on what we are learning during lockdown both in terms of MBC being a “dispersed” church and about the wider society;  a brief presentation from Shona on an interim report titled Relating Well Together; statements from the Leadership Team regarding a number of staffing issues and a catch up on a couple of in-house notices. 

Carers Week is an annual awareness campaign to recognise the vital contribution made by unpaid carers across the UK.

This year’s Carers Week campaign (8-14 June), supported locally by Carers Leeds and citywide partners is asking people come together and help “Make Caring Visible.”

Leeds has at least 74,000 unpaid carers, and more people are taking on extra caring responsibilities at this time, for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support.  Caring roles are many and varied – including those who support people living with dementia, those who care for children with additional needs, those caring for people who have mental illness, those who care for their parents due to disability or age.

During the coronavirus lockdown, many carers are experiencing the added challenge of caring for someone 24/7, when previously there were groups, activities and support for their loved one to be part of in their weekly routine.  Charities and services have adapted to provide as much support as they can in other ways, but life is not the same.

Those looking after someone should be recognised for the difficulties they are experiencing, respected for all they are doing, and provided with information, support and understanding.

There will be many people we can think of in our own families, friendship groups and throughout our community at Moortown who are carers. Perhaps you yourself are a carer…

What can we do to help?

1. Raise awareness

– Add Your Voice on the Carers Week Website or on social media to help make caring

   visible using the hashtag #CarersWeek

2. Recognise the impact of caring

– Talk to carers and help them to access the support services in our community, for  

   example, put them in touch with Carers Leeds (details below) or let them know about

   the ‘Looking after someone guide’ (updated coronavirus information on this page):

   https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/get-resources/looking-after-someone

3. Do something for carers

– Could you reach out to someone who you know is caring, in a time when they may be

  feeling isolated? A telephone call, a card or letter could help make that connection.

-Could you start a zoom group for people you know who are carers? It could provide a

  time for them to chat or perhaps you could try learning a new skill or craft together?

Carers Leeds is here to provide vital information, advice and support to carers throughout Leeds. Their expert team of Carer Support Workers are available via the advice line which is open Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm. Call 0113 380 4300 or e-mail advice@carersleeds.org.uk. 

They also offer free online events every week for carers including wellbeing workshops, relaxation, zumba zooming, and support groups for carers in different situations.

You can read and listen to the moving, challenging and encouraging stories of Leeds carers here: https://www.carersleeds.org.uk/caring-during-lockdown/

Thank you to all the dedicated, wonderful carers out there – you are not forgotten. 

Carole Smith (MBC Seniors’ Worker) Shelley Dring (Children and Families Worker)

Shona Shaw (MBC Co-Minister) Graham Brownlee (MBC Co-Minister)

Many thanks to Jane Coates for sending us this list of all the pastoral care and support that is available for you here at MBC. This information will be update as circumstance change. 

With more than fifty people logging in for a practice run MBC’s first ever virtual Church Meeting is all set to go. Next Tuesday, June 9th with a 7.30pm for 8 start the 90 minute (approx) meeting will include break out discussions on what we are learning in lockdown and sharing the findings of an interim report titled Relating Well Together. In addition there will be catch ups re Youth work, deacon’s elections, staffing and finance. Many thanks to Phil Coates for providing this excellent screenshot of the practice. There is a separate article about the Church Meeting elsewhere on the website which can be accessed by clicking HERE 

There was also a new look for Oasis Cafe this week. Last Tuesday Shelley introduced Story Time, a short slot in which someone reads their favourite bible story. Opening the feature and making his debut was Sam Joyce (left) who had everyone gripped by his telling of the tale of Jonah being swallowed by a big fish. Other stories lined up are: Daniel and the lions den, The miraculous catch, Psalm 139 and Joseph and his coat. You can join Oasis Cafe at 11am on Tuesdays by going to www.facebook.com/moortots and you can catch on any you have missed on Youtube by visiting Family at Moortown

Elsewhere on the website there is chance to revisit the whole of our Pentecost service. However, such was the reaction that we couldn’t resist the temptation to give our Pentecost Dance/movement sequence another airing. From hula-hooping to lamb dancing and from pan banging to ballet it is universally agreed that we must find a way of bottling all this talent so that at some stage in the future, live, and in public we can reprise it. Above is a collage of totally random screenshot images grabbed during the performance, but if you would like to experience the entire spectacle again all you need to do is to click HERE 

Karen’s cross stitching ticks all the right boxes

As well as being MBC’s ace hula-hooper Karen Handley is also proving to be no mean crafter.

“I took up cross stitching some years ago,” says Karen “but hadn’t done a project for a while. Then I suddenly remembered that I still had both the raw materials and a frame that had been given to me by a friend after I had admired some of her work.”

Many thanks to John Kavanagh for sending in these pictures of how our busses now look. A maximum of 19 passengers per double-decker to ensure social distancing and at the time of writing a recommendation that everyone uses contactless payment and wears a mask.

And finally Some things never change. It won’t take me to remind you that over the last eleven weeks many things have changed. However, is there something in your life, some habit, some tradition that is so set in stone that no matter what this one thing carries on exactly as normal.

We are sending this for prayer, sharing, listening, comment and speaking out

Yesterday in our Church at Home service, we celebrated the Holy Spirit’s outpouring at Pentecost. The words of the prophet Joel are familiar to us but I do not know a time, when Joel’s words have stirred in me such sadness and guilt that I have stood in the way of others receiving God’s favour. For if I receive the blessing of Pentecost for myself and my household, I cannot ignore the challenge of Pentecost to share this blessing.

The anger and grief that is currently being poured out on the doorstep of the White House in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, is no localized phenomenon, it belongs at my doorstep too. For as a white woman, I am part of the status quo and have benefited from the status quo that has crushed and exploited those for whom the Spirit is poured out.

I am not asking you to condone violence, I’m asking you to stop and listen to our brothers and sisters. Not to judge or condemn but to openly listen. We keep being told our return to a new normal is a great opportunity for changing our ways. Could we commit to be a returning church that has the courage to be held accountable and the grace to listen, even if it makes us uncomfortable? Can we make space in our ‘new normal’ for those with a lived experience of racial oppression to find their voice amongst us?

Shona Shaw

In our Church at Home we celebrated a lockdown Pentecost, this is somewhat ironic. It is more than ironic that as we know the Spirit to be the breath of God among us we hear the cry of George Floyd and others – “I can’t breathe”. Joel prophesied that the Spirit would be poured out on all, Acts told what happened and Amos spoke of justice flowing like a never-failing stream. The experiences of black people, and also of women in Pakistan/India, and of those suffering domestic violence show that we are not dealing with isolated incidents. I am also aware of the greater effect of Covid among BAME communities. I believe that if the breath and justice of the Spirit is for all it must be for these people.

I too feel sadness and guilt that I have been too passive and been content to speak for myself rather than listen to others. I have enjoyed my privilege and so distanced myself from the pain. What is going on is stopping the flow of the Spirit.

In the coming days we may see headlines about violence in protest marches and the excesses of looting. I too do not condone these but to dwell on them is to focus on symptoms and not causes and to allow ourselves to become distracted from bringing real change for the better.

In making a statement, the first thing we can do is listen to the voices of those who experience and then move to be a community together and find a shared voice. As a white man I am ready to listen and through this act in a new way. I hope that our church will come out of lockdown to discover ways of being church. I hope that we will have the courage to adapt, the kindness to try out, the humility to lay things down and the imagination to experiment. Stories of oppression are interconnected but must be told specifically. I hope we will start listening with intent and I think it begins with matters of racial injustice that have been highlighted recently.

I believe that this is an integral part of the move of the Spirit and a witness to the risen Jesus Christ.

Graham Brownlee