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  • 2013
  • A handy solution

A handy solution

How do medics on ward rounds avoid spreading MRSA and other infections among patients without having to take time out to use hygiene dispensers?

Published 29 August 2013

Maddy Conaghan, a University of Brighton product design graduate, believes she's come up with a speedy answer.

 Maddy Conaghan

Maddy Conaghan

The device is quick and means medical staff can continue their rounds without delays or interruptions. She has developed 'Flo', a portable hand sanitation device worn round the wrists. When the doctor or nurse has finished with one patient, he or she rubs the devices and sanitising liquid is automatically dispensed to be rubbed onto the palms and forearms.

Flo caught the eye of design experts who selected it for the recent Product Design Centre exhibition in London, and Maddy has had endorsements from nursing staff who helped her with her research.

One nurse, Peter Atkinson, Community nurse from Brighton, said: "It's vital that we protect our patients from infection and Maddy's device looks like it could be a real winner as it's so straight forward and convenient."

Maddy, 22, hopes to develop Flo into a commercial venture but producing innovations that help mankind is her driving force: "Design that can really help people is what I am passionate about and Flo could help medical staff keep infection rates down without interrupting patient contact."

She added: "The University of Brighton course taught me how we can create purposeful design."

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