The Ebola epidemic of 2014 in West Africa required a coordinated global response. The United Kingdom Government was appointed as a lead nation with specific responsibility for the worst hit areas in Sierra Leone. The Government’s commitment to healthcare workers and military personnel deployed in the region required that they have a system to enable the safe transportation of any British National with symptoms of Ebola back to the UK for treatment.
Flexiplastics are the nominated Global supplier to the Ministry of Defence and NHS of Air Transportable Isolators (ATIs). These flexible PVC Envelopes enable a patient with a highly contagious disease to be safely moved by road or air whilst still allowing constant care and treatment by medical professionals. A directive from ministers on the COBRA committee required Britain rapidly increased its capacity in readiness for potential requirements. As part of this Flexiplastics successfully completed the manufacture of the full requirement in a 4 month window ensuring Britain was ready and prepared for this or future outbreaks.
Later Flexiplastics received a letter of appreciation from the Ministry of Defence, this acknowledges the small part Flexiplastics paid in combating this serious outbreak. The MoD Brigadier working with Flexiplastics, highlighted the “pro-activity” of Flexiplastics and how well the company “embraced this challenge”. Continuing to add, “Your ability to shape your workforce and resources, and ramp up operational output to meet the requirement went beyond what I could have ever expected – for that I am truly grateful.”