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ASP Joins Plymouth NHS Trust In The Fight Against Hospital Superbugs

A West Midlands based supplier of ingenious talking poster frames has been chosen by Plymouth NHS Trust to join in the fight against infection, including the super bugs MRSA and C-DIF.

The talking frames are in place both in the Wards and more uniquely for Plymouth at the entrance to the hospital.  They are placed at ward entrance ways next to anti bacterial gel dispensers which staff, patients and visitors must use to decontaminate their hands on arrival and on exit.  Due to the revolutionary technology, the frames not only contain visual instructions on how to use the gel, but also an audio reminder.

Triggered by a motion sensor, the audio track plays immediately.  It is designed to grab the attention of the passer by, making sure that they take notice of the poster instructions.

More uniquely, Plymouth has also placed the frames at the entrance ways to the main building and wards to inform visitors entering the building of the Trusts’ policy towards hand decontamination.  This has been achieved as each frame chip can have several different messages recorded. 

Dr Peter Jenks, Director of Infection Prevention & Control, comments:   "Maintaining good hand hygiene compliance is the most single important factor in reducing the incidence of Hospital-Acquired Infections. Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust has made significant progress in reducing rates of MRSA and Clostridium difficile, and we are always looking at ways to raise awareness and promote good practice. The Talking Signs are a novel way of doing this and provide a useful addition to our Hand Hygiene Campaign."

David Robinson, Managing Director of Duraframe Systems, a division of Aluminium Special Products Limited comments: “The frames use an audio track which is designed to grab passer-by attention.  When combined with a thoughtful poster, the complete information package delivered is very powerful and difficult to ignore.  The frames have previously been used in washrooms reminding people to wash their hands, and the success of these campaigns led us to believe that hospitals could also benefit from the products.  The latest version for hospitals has been individually designed to be as clean as possible, with anti microbial products used where ever possible”.