Dulwich College student creates Covid-safe screen to allow life-saving medical examinations to continue

By Alice Neil

A sixth-form student has developed a Covid-safe screen to allow life-saving medical examinations to resume.

Dulwich College student Sam Williams, 18, has worked alongside Communitas Clinics to develop the screen which provides a safe way for medical examinations to take place.

The screen acts as a barrier between the patient and doctor, allowing the procedure to be carried out from a safe distance.

The procedure, called a Nasendoscopy, involves a small camera being inserted into the nose.

It looks at the inside of the nose and can diagnose polyps and lesions as well as identifying potential signs of cancer.

Since March, doctors have not been able to carry out the examination safely due to the risk of patients sneezing or coughing as the camera is inserted.

This screen has allowed examinations to take place for the first time since the start of the Covid pandemic.

Plamen Donev, Consultant and Clinical Lead with Communitas Clinics, said: “I had been really nervous about going back to work. When I saw the screen made up with the modifications, I quickly realised that this piece of kit would make me feel safer and considerably reduce the risk of infection”.

Sam continued going into school during the first lockdown to make visors for NHS staff.

He said that “there were many challenges” but was pleased to be given the project.

Christian Molyneux Lyons, managing director of Communitas Clinics, said: “The screen is helping put us back on track and allows us to help patients who have been left high and dry during lockdown”.

Sam has been commissioned to make four screens.

Pictured top: Consultant Plamen Donev and Dulwich College student Sam Williams