Hospital adopts virtual nurse to give hygiene advice

University College Hospital (UCH) is the first in the country to introduce a 'virtual nurse' to greet staff and patients on their arrival and remind them about the importance of following good infection control practice.

As well as advising staff, patients and visitors about the importance of hand hygiene and cleanliness, the virtual nurse also keeps patients and visitors informed about other Trust projects.

The virtual nurse, funded by Interserve who provide facilities services at the hospital, is just one tactic being used by the facilities team to improve awareness of the importance of infection control. Others include, signs, recorded messages prompting staff and patients to clean their hands, patient information leaflets and training and education programmes.

The virtual nurse is reflected via high definition video projectors onto a specially-developed material, which produces a crystal clear image.

Visitors will be regularly prompted by the virtual nurse to clean their hands at the many hand gel dispenser points around the hospital.The unit has two working dispenser units built into the design, so visitors can take immediate action.

A short study suggests the unit is being well received by patients and visitors. One in three people in the UCH atrium used the unit to clean their hands during a twohour period in November.

Should the trial prove successful, patients can look forward to seeing additional virtual units throughout the Trust,welcoming patients, visitors and staff at its other key locations - providing a wide range of patient and visitor information.