Good practice and technology the ideal mix

With the publication of the revised Memorandum, HTM 04-01: Safe water in healthcare premises, the Department of Health has set a renewed and strong focus on the control of waterborne pathogens in healthcare settings. Eoin McQuone, Commercial Business director at washroom specialist, Rada, discusses these changes, and explains why new innovations in water management systems are a critical part of preventing waterborne infections, delivering efficiencies, and meeting the DH’s goal of reversing the rise in healthcare-acquired infections. 

In recent years, healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) have become better understood, and awareness has grown, partly due to the exhaustive investigations carried out by the estates community and the continuing engagement of the wider water systems community after a number of welldocumented cases. We know patients are more vulnerable to certain infections because of existing illness, age, or the treatment of their condition, but it is worrying to think that the very place you go to make you better can at times make you worse, despite the best efforts of those caring for you. 

The World Health Organization points to the scale of the challenge – of over six million cases of HCAIs that occur in the US and Europe each year, around 136,000 will result in the death of a patient, while in England and Wales, HCAIs claim 5,000 lives a year.