Engineers swap shipyard to construct screens for Morecambe Bay trust hospital wards

Volunteers from BAE Systems Submarines assemble some of the screens.

Covid-19 precautions mean wards need fixed screens that are easy to wash down and disinfect.

Around 200 have now been delivered to hospitals in Barrow, Kendal and Lancaster. Constructed of aluminium and steel, they came through the NHS supply chain but required professional assembly and installation.

BAE Systems Senior Resilience Engineer Paul Birkby said: "We have been involved in several projects for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust. The team assembling the screens involved 20 people in all, including engineers and drivers.

"We were happy to help. It's nice being able to do something positive during the crisis."

Aaron Cummins, Chief Executive of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: "On behalf of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, I would like to thank BAE Systems for the phenomenal support they have given us throughout these unprecedented circumstances and in response to Covid-19.

"The quick response by their engineers to help assemble privacy screens has been very much appreciated and by working together the results have been extremely positive. The response I have seen from the local community has been truly fantastic and BAE Systems should be extremely proud of what they have achieved to support our local hospitals."