Introducing Olly the Octopus: giving (eight) helping hands to The NHS
01 November 2024
A cheery blue octopus with sturdy tentacles to hold IV drip bags is making waves at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro (Treliske).
Falmouth University graduate Florence Mitchell designed ‘Olly’ as a final-year Sustainable Product Design BA project, working with hospital staff to create a functional medical item that would bring comfort to young patients on the children’s ward.
Moulded from Sterimelt - a polypropylene made from recycled hospital gowns, masks and curtains - Olly is three times stronger than a standard IV drip holder and accompanied by an app that brings him to life.
Falmouth University graduate Florence Mitchell designed ‘Olly’ as a final-year Sustainable Product Design BA project, working with hospital staff to create a functional medical item that would bring comfort to young patients on the children’s ward.
“He’s 100% a best friend for children, who can find hospital lonely and intimidating,” says Florence, who created the prototype with support from Falmouth’s technicians and using the University’s advanced design facilities.
Remarkably, Florence has also designed Olly to be easy to disassemble and repair - needing only a screwdriver - to further help reduce waste.
"Olly is designed to be completely taken apart and repaired if broken down. I started off just trying to find a problem at the hospital; I didn't want to design something that wasn't needed. [A problem we identified] was that currently, IV poles break really easily, and once broken, they have to be completely thrown out.
"As long as you've got a screwdriver to hand, just a hand one, anyone can do it."
And what are Florence's dreams for Olly?
“I’ve had great feedback from the hospital teams and hope to further develop and improve the product; to improve the materials. I’d love to see Olly in every children’s ward.”
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