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New bug stars in radio soap

Roland Hancock
7/ 4/2006

A NEW bug born in Oldham is sweeping hospital wards across the country. But this "super" bug is the star of a new radio soap opera.

And "Billy the Bug" is helping keep the potentially deadly MRSA virus away from hospital wards.

The microscopic marvel has already featured in four short plays for Oldham's Radio Cavell, which broadcasts to hospitals in north east Manchester. And his adventures, trying to "visit" a hospital ward, will soon be heard at a further 61 hospital radio stations nationwide.

Billy was the idea of Radio Cavell's Dave McGealy, who also provides the voice of the manic creation.

He said: "Billy is just a humorous way to remind people to take care on the wards.

"Hopefully his escapades are fun as well as informative."

Heroic Hand Wash

In the plays Billy tries desperately to get into a hospital ward to infect unwitting patients - only to find his way barred by Heroic Hand Wash which fights him at every turn.

Dave said: "Staff are pretty good at washing their hands. But others, especially visitors, need to know that washing your hands is the best way to stop the infection spreading."

Not only has the show, aired four times a week, been a huge hit with patients and staff but it was the talk of the Hospital Broadcasters' Association annual convention in Blackpool a few weeks ago.

Programmers now plan to make Billy an international star by making the plays available online, so that even more stations across the world can have access to him.

Hear Billy's hospital adventures by clicking the links below...

Related Audio Clips


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(3)


Most recent 2 of 3 user comments

   I think it is wonderful that you are attempting to spread the word about hospital acquired infections, but please GET IT RIGHT! MRSA is a drug resistant bacteria - NOT A VIRUS (as you note on the cover page)! There is enough poor information on the internet already.
Jason, Baltimore, MD USA
8/04/2006 at 00:22

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   i would like to ask Dave Mc Gealey how does he know staff are good at washing their hands and that it should be the visitors that need educating in this ~ does he not know that the NHS are pouring thousands of pounds into campaigns and training for STAFF on HOW to wash their hands ~ it is not the visitors that see to patients wounds its the helathcare staff ~ its not the visitors that change beds, clean floors, its the healthcare workers ~ the only fault of the visitor/patient is the non transparancy of information and the non monitoring of compliance within the NHS
ev Hurst, wigan
7/04/2006 at 13:50

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