Image and Editorial Source: Health Estate Journal

Richard Norman, Managing Director of Indepth Hygiene Services Limited, the UK’s leading company for specialist cleaning of ventilation systems talks about the importance of ensuring they are thoroughly cleaned.

There has never been a previous time when those responsible for the maintenance of ventilation systems had more reason to ensure they are maintained in a clean and safe condition. On a fundamental level the National Health Service is charged with the responsibility in its own constitution to ensure “patients are treated by an organisation that provides its services in a clean and safe environment”. The very air that patients, staff and visitors breathe must be safe and unpolluted. Since the essential functions of a ventilation (air conditioning) system is to circulate clean safe air it is indisputable that those with a particular responsibility for maintaining ventilation systems should ensure that all possible steps are taken to do just that.

Unfortunately it is my company’s experience that, with some exceptions, ventilation systems are not being given the priority attention they deserve. Even against a background of greater focus on achieving improved cleanliness under the Government’s deep clean drive there is little evidence of ventilation systems being included in the programme essentially aimed at reducing the incidence of healthcare associated infections (HCAI). (more…)