Roma Medical shifts production to aid national coronavirus effort with IV stands & commodes
Welsh manufacturer Roma Medical has adapted its manufacturing capabilities to assist the NHS nationally, developing urgently needed products for the Nightingale field hospitals in London and Birmingham.
A manufacturer of a wide range of mobility equipment and medical devices since the 1970s, Bridgend-based Roma Medical works with both the retail-sector and NHS to meet the needs of individuals.
Following the outbreak of coronavirus across the UK and subsequent lockdown measures introduced by the government, Roma Medical, like many in the mobility sector, faced a steep and sudden fall in demand in March.
Faced with the prospect of shutting its production facilities, the company received a request from the NHS to produce urgently needed equipment required in the new Nightingale hospitals at the ExCel Centre in London and the NEC in Birmingham.
Speaking with Simon Dalton, Managing Director at Roma Medical, he explained: “Over the years, we have worked closely with a number of NHS Health Boards and Trusts to develop products to suit their needs. In particular – our range of Patient Transfer chairs and commode/sanichairs – have all been designed with infection control clinicians and healthcare professionals to be safe, easy to use and durable.
“A little under 2 weeks ago, we were approached by the NHS to supply IV stands (drip stands) as the national stocks of this product had been depleted.”
The company’s design team was tasked with developing a product that was both functional and easy to transport in extremely high volumes.
“Within 48 hours, we not only developed the design but received commitment to supply the NHS with 10,000 stands! The first 500 of which were delivered to Nightingale ExCel on Friday 3rd April,” he continued.
Following the order, the Welsh company has since created two dedicated manufacturing lines, producing commodes and drip stands solely to support the NHS nationally with C19 contingency stocks.
“If we hadn’t been involved in this project, we would have had to shut the factory down last Friday,” added Simon, “but now we are extremely proud to be an innovative Welsh company supporting the NHS with our UK based capability.”
