The NPSA is applauded for instructing NHS hospitals to have alcohol hand rubs at every bed. NewGenn Research would like to build on that action by presenting their alternative to alcohol. The name ?NewGenn? arose because the researchers in that company specialise in providing New Generation products. In this case alcohol has been available in hand rubs for many decades and despite its strong activity the number of healthcare associated infections has still been far too high. It was decided that a new perspective was needed.

For many years the British Government has funded Dr Harley Farmer of NewGenn Research to develop a range of ALCOHOL-FREE products. The project was maintained on a quiet footing until positive results were available from hospitals. Dr Farmer said, ?Being a veterinary surgeon from the Australian outback ensured I would bring that much needed different perspective and also helped the team to be left in comparative isolation to make steady, quiet progress.?

Andrew Crowe, NewGenn?s Managing Director said: ?This approach was similar in some respects to the Australian who succeeded in preventing gastric ulcers. The big difference between Dr Farmer?s campaign and the gastric ulcer campaign is the size of the team involved with NewGenn. Support from hospital infection control teams, patient groups, healthcare workers and key individuals within the British health establishment ensured that when the NewGenn products were launched last year they were accepted as real solutions for real people in real life situations.?

Mr Crowe added: ?These alcohol-free products offer the NHS much better value for money, remove a hazardous flammable solvent from the wards and control of the Noro Virus that causes winter vomiting disease.? He added: ?NewGenn has just established a branch in the Gulf where the alcohol-free issue is keenly appreciated, and with the increased number of foreign health-care workers in the NHS this feature is becoming more important here on religious grounds.?

As NewGenn?s Technical Director Dr Farmer stated ?Healthcare associated infections are caused by a multitude of factors so a single product like a hand rub, regardless of its contents, will not break the infection cycles on its own. A full range of products that work together is required and at present NewGenn appears to be the only company in the world capable of providing such an effective system approach.?

Mr Crowe summarised by stating that: ?We strongly support the excellent work of the NPSA but the use of the word ?alcohol? in their recent instruction to hospitals warrants discussion. If the word was simply removed the whole of the NHS would become aware that safer, better value and more effective ingredients than alcohol are now available and are already being used to successfully break the infection cycles in British hospitals.?

NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. Noro Virus is the cruise ship virus that affected the P&O?s Aurora in Greece last year. NewGenn?s alcohol-free hand rub is being used to good effect by another cruise line. 2. The DTI has provided ?0.5m to support the development of NewGenn?s products. 3. www.newgenn.com provides greater details. 4. NewGenn is already widely used by Veterinary practices, animal charities like the RSPCA, Wood Green Animal Shelters, Cat Protection and many zoos. 5. NewGenn has developed specialist products with the Dental sector. 6. e-commerce shopping is available on www.newgenn.com for the increasing number of healthcare workers who want NewGenn products in their own homes. 7. Andrew Crowe can be contacted on 01359 253840.