Hygiene meets hip-hop in hand-washing video
NHS spending cuts don't apply to rapping nurses
A video of nurses rapping hip-hop hand-washing advice cost the publicly-funded NHS Milton Keynes 1,800 – at a time when it must cut millions from its spending.
The five nurses, complete with 'bling' jewellery, baggy jeans and baseball caps, were filmed on a roof top, voicing the hygiene message they hope will echo across care homes and health centres.
It begins with two of them, in more usual attire, discussing the issues of hand washing, before the screen changes and the alter-egos appear.
The lyrics begin with 'even if your hands look clean, just remember where they've been...' and include lines like 'germs aren't fussy where they lurk, so you've got to do some work.'
Running for four minutes and 39 seconds, the 1,800 video was produced by Milton Keynes production company Ask MK.
But NHS Milton Keynes hopes to recoup the outlay by selling the film at a cost of 25 per DVD.
Both NHS Milton Keynes and Ask MK yesterday defended the production.
Leigh Kendall, a spokesman for NHS Milton Keynes said: "The importance of good hand hygiene in preventing healthcare associated infections cannot be over-emphasised.
"With the cost of treating a patient for MRSA or C. Diff reaching 3,500, the cost of the DVD – 1,800 – is certainly justified.
"The DVD can be purchased at a cost of 25 – this will help cover the costs of the DVD and help fund further training for this important issue.
"We have received positive feedback from the healthcare community and so far, we have received interest in purchasing the DVD from care homes and GP practices."
Lincoln Bedeau, the founder and managing director of Ask MK, said the firm's 1,800 fee was 'very competitive'.
He added: "Our videos are commercial, professional videos and with this one we had a number of staff on set and at least three people produced this one over two weeks.
"I didn't know they were selling the video for 25 but once they've commissioned us it's their property. It's not my place to tell them to spend their money – I'm a taxpayer myself.
"But they should be commended for getting this message across in a unique, creative and dynamic way."
The TaxPayers' Alliance disagreed with Mr Bedeau. Spokesman Fiona McEvoy said: "This might look like some light-hearted fun, but it's actually a very expensive professionally produced video.
"The money used should have been spent on important supplies like medicine or equipment, especially at a time when the NHS in Milton Keynes is trying to make big savings.
"It's vital the health service gets its priorities in order. By spending almost 2,000 here they've diverted much-needed cash away from the front line."
> To watch the video, click here.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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