A DEESIDE man who's been making PPE claims local nurses are "shocked" that he's been told his services are no longer required.

Mark Mannering, from Connah's Quay has been for the last few months been printing bulk loads of 3D full face protective visors - made available by printing companies in response to coronavirus - from his home for key workers on the frontline.

But now Mr Mannering, who's supplied over 6,000 pieces of equipment to key workers, has been told by Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board that he no longer needs to make anymore of them.

The health board says it is "satisfied" that it now has enough CE marked visors available for its staff, so the production of additional visors is no longer required - but placed on record its thanks for the "incredible efforts" of everyone who has been making PPE amid the current crisis.

However Mr Mannering told the Leader that he is currently "busier than ever" - and while that includes the fact he's making visors for those in the social care sector and other key workers - he says he sent 150 visors to staff at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd last week.

He said: "When I sent the 150 visors up there last week, they said they'd need more soon.

"When I showed some of the nurses the email I'd received from the health board they were all really shocked by it."

And while requests for visors keep flooding in, the issue is hindering makers' access to grants.

Mr Mannering, who has now set the scheme up as community interest company to use recycled materials to make the PPE, said: "The fact that us makers are being told by officials that they don't need our 3D printed PPE anymore is also hindering grant applications as officially we aren't needed anymore.

"As of Saturday I've even ran out of funds for giving them away for free so have had to start charging - which I hate doing."

Chris Stockport, Betsi Cadwaladr's executive director of primary and community care, said: “We are satisfied that there are now sufficient CE marked visors available for health board staff.

"The production of additional visors is no longer required, but our gratitude to all the schools, colleges, businesses, universities and technology enthusiasts have all joined the voluntary effort to ensure our staff have sufficient quality Personal Protective Equipment will be felt for a very long time to come.

“Thanks to their incredible efforts, there is also a reserve of these voluntarily made visors ready, should they be required.

“Should demand exceed supply again we will contact the registered makers directly to ask for assistance.”