Medtronic gives back to Galway
One of Galway’s biggest employers is to give away more than €900,000 to various local initiatives in recognition of the contribution made by its employees in increasing ventilator supply for the fight against Covid.
Medtronic’s Giving Back to Galway initiative will support a pandemic preparedness research project at NUI Galway; the commissioning of a legacy artwork with GMIT; and the development – with Galway City Council – of Mervue United’s home ground, O’Sullivan Park, which is adjacent to its plant.
The announcement was made at a special event at NUIG to mark Galway’s response to the pandemic, which was addressed by Medtronic CEO and chairman Geoff Martha and attended by key local politicians, community groups and Medtronic partners.
The additional €270,000 in Medtronic funding follows previous recognition of more than €600,000 made to staff during 2020 to acknowledge the pandemic response and grants from the Medtronic Foundation to underserved communities.
The Covid-19 pandemic was a catalyst for a significant ramp-up of operations at Medtronic in Galway at the height of the crisis.
At the manufacturing plant in Mervue, the production of ventilators increased by two-fold initially, and then five-fold in less than five months, operating on a 24/7 basis.
The company also released the full design specifications for the Puritan Bennett 560 ventilator, which is manufactured in Galway, to competitors and new entrants as part of the fight against the pandemic, and also rapidly mobilized funds and other supports to help local staff and communities.
Medtronic’s Mervue operations, in collaboration with partnerships across the Galway community, were at the very heart of the local response to the crisis, as well as the company’s global healthcare efforts.
Geoff Martha said he was honoured to be in Galway ‘to recognise the commitment and determination shown by our staff and the wider Galway community in the face of this crisis’.
“We learned that, in the most difficult of times, great things are possible when our staff and their communities rally together,” he said.
“Medical technology and healthcare services, together with third-level colleges and local groups here in Galway, joined forces in an unprecedented way at the height of the pandemic.
“When the pandemic hit, our employees doubled down and came into work each day to deliver for patients. They embodied the Medtronic Mission to contribute to human welfare in more remarkable ways than we could have ever thought possible,” he added.
NUIG President, Professor Ciarán hÓgartaigh, welcomed the opportunity ‘to deepen the engagement’ Medtronic which he said ‘complements our values of excellence and openness…as we pursue learning, research and innovation with a commitment to making a difference locally and globally.’
Medtronic’s Giving Back to Galway support for NUIG includes funding and expertise that will go towards analyzing the performance of ventilator supply chains during the pandemic, developing tools to enhance supply chain resilience for the next pandemic, and enhancing the rapid upskilling of nursing staff in mechanical ventilation.
The Ireland-U.S. Council also presented its 2021 Global Achievement Award to Geoff Martha to mark his role in overseeing Medtronic’s significant contribution to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.