Mackwell Health, part of the Mackwell Group, has been accredited as a registered safety supplier under the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme (RSSS) by the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF). A mandatory requirement for personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers in the UK market, Mackwell Health has achieved accreditation on its first attempt. 

BSIF is a trade consortium for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that was first set up in 1994. It has Primary Authority status for general Trading Standards and active links with several governmental departments in the UK. Registered in the BSIF Registered Safety Supplier Scheme, Mackwell Health has demonstrated its intention to undertake and maintain its obligations under applicable legislation on PPE.

After applying and successfully achieving the extension to scope for the inclusion of PPE into its 9001:2015 certification, Mackwell’s Quality Management System was audited and tested against the necessary standards to ensure that the integration of PPE into its operating systems was effective. 

Where products are sourced from external organisations which hold technical files relating to the products being offered, Mackwell requests confirmation that these files are current, complete, and contain appropriate conformity assessment information. Where relevant, Mackwell also requests confirmation of regulatory compliance certificates and takes all necessary steps to confirm the validity of the compliance documentation held by that external supplier, in respect of the products being sourced. 

Additionally, where the services provided are related to safety equipment sourced from external organisations, Mackwell maintains approval from the manufacturer that the services provided are assessed and approved by the external organisation.

A newly created brand of the Mackwell Group, Mackwell Health was founded during the pandemic to provide UK engineered solutions that offer unprecedented levels of safety, backed by robust evidence, in the environments in which they are used. Having recently announced the appointment of Nick Brangwin as Managing Director for Mackwell Health, this latest milestone helps the organisation further strengthen its position within the healthcare industry. 

Dr Andy Davies, Commercial Director at Mackwell Health, said: “Mackwell Health is dedicated to providing solutions that help to make the world a safer place. This accreditation proves our determination to our customers to ensure that we provide them with the best quality PPE and RPE available on the market. We uphold the highest standard, and we will continue to improve on the great work that the team has already accomplished.”

Mackwell Health, part of the Mackwell Group, has formed a partnership with the UK respiratory protection specialist Corpro, formally Core Protection Systems, to enable the development and distribution of user-centric respiratory systems for the healthcare market. 

The pandemic has plummeted the world of personal protective equipment (PPE), and more prominently respiratory protective equipment (RPE), into the spotlight. As a by-product of this, the conversations surrounding the adequacy, suitability and potential impacts of RPE, particularly in the healthcare environment, have never been so commonplace. 

A mask’s protection level and fit are paramount, but more and more thought is being given to the potential long-term negative impacts of certain types of masks, such as the gradual mounting costs and waste generated by surgical and other disposable masks such as FFP3s. These concerns are valid, and they need to be considered when producing RPE in the future. 

Through Mackwell Health’s and Corpro’s partnership, the objective is to address such issues and give healthcare professionals the choice of a comfortable, sustainable solution with exceptional protection.  

Corpro are UK producers of high-quality reusable half masks, full face masks and various filters, along with an ever-growing range of medical accessories. Corpro’s respirators and filtration products are both easy to decontaminate and fully maintainable. Imminently, Corpro will be releasing a number of healthcare-centric and equally sustainable respiratory systems, including solutions which ensure protection for both mask wearers and patients, streamlined and lower profile mask alternatives, as well as innovative yet affordable positive-pressure products. Mackwell Health will be a distributor of all of these products, as well as being the creator of the ProtectivAir UV-powered respirator system which also incorporates a new generation of Corpro half mask.

A potential worry which has been cited by healthcare workers regarding the adoption of reusable RPE is the more rigorous cleaning protocols. Hence, both businesses will also be working together to validate new methods of between-use RPE decontamination, as well as continuing to provide comprehensive maintenance guidance and support. 

But the relationship between Mackwell Health and Corpro does not stop there. Corpro is under the same management and shares many of the same team members as The Filter Design Company, a highly reputable UK filtration business. Mackwell Health is additionally working with The Filter Design Company to develop and manufacture the highest quality filters for ProtectivAir, helping to ensure that their safety-critical powered systems are as protective as they can possibly be. 

Mackwell Health and Corpro are excited to collaborate for years to come to help drive and create positive changes in the healthcare market. More information will follow in the coming months about both companies’ developments and joint endeavours.