Brilliant Theo making visors to protect healthcare workers

24th November 2020

Theo photo

When there was a severe shortage of PPE, 15-year-old Theo Lewis initiated the idea to make face visors at home at his own cost on a 3D printer, which he’d made from a flat-pack. He made over 400 visors for various health care professionals including GPs, radiologists, pharmacists, haematologists, care workers and social workers.

Theo made a difference by supplying, free of charge, essential PPE to health professionals and possibly saving their lives. He demonstrated excellence by investigating and modifying visors that complied with regulations and would be comfortable to wear for sustained periods.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Theo was working flat out all day (minimum 12 hours) with his very basic home-made 3D printer making visors for medical professionals because he wanted to help. This expanded into other social care professionals and then others.

Most have been supplied free of charge although sometimes donations towards materials have been made, which he’s been very grateful for so that he's then been able to make more visors.

He was very happy to receive a bar of Dairy Milk from one of the nurses!

Theo Lewis 1

Here is a quote from the first person to request one of Theo’s visors: "I am an NHS radiographer - X- raying Covid-19 patients became a daily occurrence. When the pandemic started we could not get protective visors and when we first got some they were not fit for purpose and fell off whilst I was working.

“These were scary times so I was incredibly relieved to hear that Theo could make a visor for me that would fully protect me.

“I cried when I got Theo's visor - he even made me a purple visor as that is my favourite colour.

“I still have my lovely purple visor, it has been invaluable and has protected me from a hideous disease.

“Thank you so much Theo

💜

Clare”

Some of the areas that Theo supplied:

Nurses (including those in Dementia Care, Audiology and Community Nurses and other at GWH) - 40

GP’s & Pharmacists - 40

Radiographers - 3

Haematologist - 1

Care Homes and Carers - 120

Social Workers - 30

Postal Worker - 1

Librarians - 5

School/Playgroup Staff - 60

Specialist Autism Team - 25

Multiple Sclerosis Centre Staff - 12

Beauticians and Hairdressers - 1

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