A West Midland supplier of talking poster frames is helping to fight hospital infections, including superbug MRSA.
Kingswinford-based ASP Duraframe has developed a talking frame that reminds staff, patients and visitors to treat hands with anti-bacterial gel and gives instructions.
Now, after a successful pilot scheme, the company will supply nine of the devices to the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.
Triggered by a motion sensor, the audio reminder plays when someone walks past.
It is designed to grab the attention of the passerby, making sure they take notice of instructions.
Jane Lockwood, lead nurse in Infection Control at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust is a UK leader in piloting innovative ways in which to promote good hand hygiene to patients, visitors and staff.
"Two frames were offered to us to trial as part of the National Patients' Safety Agency's Cleanyourhands campaign.
"The frames were trailed directly outside ward and department entrances and, as a result, several ward areas have now decided to purchase their own."
Ms Lockwood said staff had reacted positively and saw them as a useful reminder. "Public and patient feedback has also been very positive," she added.
David Robinson, managing director of ASP Duraframe, said: "This is the first time that DuraFrameActive has been used in such an environment but the way in which the frames can grab audiences' attention with powerful messages make them ideal for this type of application.
"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, however we were surprised by how dramatic the impact was."
