Harborough hero says he has been blocked from making over 2,000 vital face shields for frontline NHS workers

Aaron’s amazing story has made news headlines all over the UK and even internationally after it broke last week in the Harborough Mail
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A Market Harborough hero says he has been blocked from making over 2,000 vital face shields for frontline NHS workers.

Aaron Shrive, 31, has produced an astonishing 6,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health service staff during the Covid-19 crisis.

But the stunned Good Samaritan was promptly halted in his tracks by warnings that he has to meet strict British and EU product standards.

Aaron Shrive, 31, has produced an astonishing 6,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health service staff during the Covid-19 crisis.Aaron Shrive, 31, has produced an astonishing 6,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health service staff during the Covid-19 crisis.
Aaron Shrive, 31, has produced an astonishing 6,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health service staff during the Covid-19 crisis.

Aaron’s amazing story has made news headlines all over the UK and even internationally after it broke last week in the Harborough Mail.

Now the angry high-tech wizard has told the Mail: “I haven’t been able to make face shields for almost two weeks.

“And that means that I have been denied point-blank from turning out more than 2,000 extra visors.

“That’s how many pieces of PPE I have been asked to make and supply from local hospitals and medical centres in Leicestershire as well as from much further afield.”

Aaron, of Ashley Way, Market Harborough, added: “It’s incredible that I’ve not been able to create and hand over vital lifesaving equipment to over 2,000 NHS staff and other critical workers tackling the coronavirus.

“I can’t begin to tell you how frustrating and soul-destroying that is.

“I’ve been working up to 21-hour days for two months solid doing my best for the NHS.

“I’ve lost a lot of income from my day job after converting my 3d printers to make PPE.

“But now I’m not helping the NHS and I’m not earning either so it’s devastating.”

He said Harborough MP Neil O’Brien is striving to get him back to work supporting NHS staff.

“Neil’s told me he’s heard from the Department of Business and they are going to investigate this.

“But they need to act now!

“We need to break this deadlock urgently so I can get back to backing the NHS and other care workers at serious risk of contracting Covid-19,” said Aaron.

“I’ve been inundated with resounding messages of support from all over the country since my story appeared in the Harborough Mail.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by how many people are telling me to keep plugging away during this horrible time.

“So I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll get some positive news this week.

“I can’t afford to be accused of breaching Government standards and being taken to court.

“But the NHS needs PPE more than ever so the sooner I can get back to knocking it out the better for our courageous frontline health and care workers.”