NHS Backlog – Where Are We Now?

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A couple of years ago, we analysed the NHS backlog, including some of its underlying causes, along with the plans in place to address it. More recently, we assessed the current state of A&E waiting times across the NHS.

The UK now has a new Labour government. The 2024 Labour manifesto promised to “build an NHS fit for the future.”

In this post, we’ll look at the current state of the NHS backlog and explore Labour’s plans for addressing these challenges.

What is the NHS Backlog?

They define the backlog as “the care the NHS would normally have delivered, but which was disrupted as COVID-19 impacted service delivery”. This incorporates cancelled procedures, delayed or refused referrals, and patients on waiting lists for treatments who would ordinarily have been seen by now.

The BMA also recognises “patients who have not yet presented to the GP… due to concerns of burdening the health service…” This implies that it’s impossible to measure the full extent of the lockdown. There’s a “hidden backlog” to contend with, too.

NHS Backlog in 2024 – What Does It Look Like Right Now?

According to the latest BMA figures, more patients than ever are currently waiting for treatment. In May 2024, there were a total of 6,377,599 individual patients waiting for treatment in England alone. Almost half of these patients have been waiting for over 18 weeks, and over 300,000 have been waiting for over a year.

The BMA regularly updates their figures on the NHS backlog.

Long-Term Issues and Brand-New Challenges

The backlog can still be largely attributed to the immense disruption brought by COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns. Yet even before the pandemic struck, demand for hospital treatment was outstripping capacity.

The NHS has a long-term plan of ensuring that 92% of patients should receive treatment within 18 months of referral. The last time this target was met was in September 2015.

To make matters worse, in July 2024 a global IT outage plunged many industries into chaos. This affected many healthcare services, with GP practices warning that they’re now facing a “considerable backlog” in appointments.

The New Labour Government’s Plans For the NHS

In their election manifesto, Labour outlined their plans for the NHS as follows:

  • Cut waiting times with 40,000 more appointments each week.
  • Double the number of cancer scanners.
  • A new Dentistry Rescue Plan.
  • 8,500 additional mental health staff.
  • Return of the family doctor.

Referencing the NHS backlog, the manifesto said:

“We will return to meeting NHS performance standards. That means patients should expect to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral for consultant-led treatment of non-urgent health conditions. This standard was achieved with the last Labour government and will be again under the next.”

Here’s how Labour plan to achieve these goals:

  • Incentivising staff to carry out additional appointments out of hours.
  • Pooling resources across neighbouring hospitals to introduce shared waiting lists to allow patients to be treated quicker.
  • Using spare capacity in the independent sector to ensure patients are diagnosed and treated more quickly.
  • “Reset relations with NHS staff” to address treatments affected by staff strikes.

What are the New Government’s Targets for the NHS Backlog?

Labour’s target is to clear the waiting time for elective treatment of over 18 weeks within five years. Analysis in the BMJ has outlined the practical, political, and financial considerations that will be necessary for Labour to achieve this target.

“Short of achieving near miraculous improvements in economic growth,” the report says, “the stark choices over NHS funding will have profound implications for the incoming government’s entire programme.”

We have already seen one of Labour’s policy pledges in action: The plan to draw from spare capacity in the independent sector to diagnose NHS patients. Since April, the Sussex Elective Co-ordination Centre has been helping over 400 NHS patients a week access private care facilities.

Yet at the time of writing, the new Labour government has been in place for less than a month. Obviously, it is still far too early to assess their success in clearing the NHS backlog. The BMA figures suggest that things are as bad as they’ve ever been. Yet hopefully, things can only get better.

Support For NHS Healthcare Providers

At Cairn Technology, we specialise in improving quality and efficiency in healthcare settings.

While we cannot help you address long waiting lists in your NHS healthcare setting, we can help you to improve staff safety and well-being while reducing turnaround times between certain procedures.

For a friendly chat about how we can help you, get in touch to talk to one of our experts today.

How Long are A&E Waiting Times in the UK – Where Are We Now?

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A few years ago, we explored the NHS backlog, and its underlying causes. We also assessed the NHS targets for clearing these backlogs, and discussed the impacts they were having on ambulance waiting times.

In this post we’ll take a closer look at the current state of A&E waiting times in the UK, and how they compare to pre-pandemic levels.

All of the figures and trends we refer to in this post come from this Office for National Statistics report.

A&E Waiting Times Vary Across the UK

Across the UK home countries, you will find slightly different policies on how A&E wait time data is collected. It’s possible to make broad comparisons between A&E wait times between England, Scotland, and Wales. However, Northern Ireland’s healthcare data collection policy differs so much as to make comparisons more difficult.

But that said, we can compare data on the overall number of A&E attendances across all four countries.

NHS Targets for A&E Waiting Times

Every country in the UK aims for a four hour standard for A&E visits. The general aim is that at least 95% of attendances will be admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours of arriving at A&E.

Following the pandemic, the NHS was under considerable pressure as services struggled to deal with patient backlogs. So, in December 2022, NHS England implemented a new temporary standard, whereby they would aim to see at least 76% of A&E attendances within four hours. NHS England returned to the 95% four hour standard in March 2024.

What is the 12 Hour Waiting Time Standard?

In addition to this four hour standard, Wales and Northern Ireland have a 12 hour standard. The aim here is that no patient should have to wait longer than 12 hours in any type of A&E department.

Average A&E Waiting Times Are Getting Longer

Across the UK, between 2013 and 2023, there has been an overall rise in the monthly percentage of A&E attendances waiting longer than four hours. Patients in England have seen the biggest rise in A&E waiting times. In January 2013, 8.1% of attendances waited longer than four hours. By September 2023, this figure had risen to 42.4%.

December 2022 saw a peak in A&E waiting times across England, Scotland, and Wales. In this one month, 50.4% of English patients, 41.7% of Scottish patients, and 45.8% of Welsh patients had to wait longer than four hours to be seen.

A&E wait times dropped significantly during the early months of the pandemic. Lockdown restrictions meant that fewer people overall attended A&E departments. While this contributed to a drop in A&E wait times, it would later result in a huge backlog of care. This is partially why wait times rose significantly in the years following the pandemic.

Why Are A&E Wait Times Getting Longer?

Beyond the post-pandemic backlog of care, there are other explanations for the rise in A&E wait times across all four UK countries.

These include:

  • Population Changes – As populations have grown, so too have the proportion of A&E attendances per 1,000 population. A growing population may also be associated with a growth in rates of disability, or long-term illnesses, that might necessitate an A&E visit.
  • Aging Populations – A higher proportion of elderly people in a population means a higher proportion of the age-related injuries and illnesses.
  • Ease of Access – In some parts of the country, people may struggle to access certain healthcare services. For example, the lack of healthcare provisions in rural areas might increase A&E attendance rates in nearby towns and cities.
  • Policy Changes – We have already explored how lockdown policies might have influenced A&E wait times. In addition to this, governments across the UK have imposed other policies that may have impacted A&E wait times, such as Scotland’s efforts to discourage unplanned attendances.

How to Find A&E Waiting Times Near Me

If you want to find out how long you might have to wait to get seen at healthcare providers in your area, use this NHS Tracker resource on the BBC’s website.

Enter your postcode and it will give you an idea of:

  • Ambulance waiting times
  • A&E waiting times
  • Treatment waiting times

Support For NHS Healthcare Providers

At Cairn Technology, we specialise in improving quality and efficiency in healthcare settings.

While we cannot help you address long waiting lists in your A&E department, we can help you to improve staff safety and well-being while reducing turnaround times between certain procedures.

We can also help you improve the waiting rooms across your healthcare premises. From air purifiers to advanced cleaning solutions, we offer a range of products and services that will help you make your waiting room safer, cleaner and more welcoming for both staff and patients.

For a friendly chat about how we can help you, get in touch to talk to one of our experts today.

Nitrous Oxide in the NHS – Risks, Plans, and Targets

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For years, the NHS made extensive use of nitrous oxide as an anaesthetic gas. Yet there are concerns that prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide could pose certain health risks. Practitioners are also becoming increasingly aware of the possible environmental impact of using anaesthetic gases.

How is Nitrous Oxide Used in Healthcare

Nitrous oxide is an odourless and colourless gas. In sub-anaesthetic concentrations it acts as a powerful analgesic. It is most commonly used in a 50:50 mix with oxygen. This mixture is otherwise known as “gas and air”, or Entonox.

Nitrous Oxide Health Risks

Short-term exposure to Entonox can cause dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. Long-term exposure can affect the body’s capacity to absorb vitamin B12. This can damage the body’s nervous system and red blood cells, which can lead to a number of neurological conditions.

Prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide may also increase the risk of developing certain liver and kidney diseases.

The exposure risks for patients are low, as patients inhale the gas through a demand valve. However, when they breathe out, they can release some of the nitrous oxide back into the room. Over time, this can create an exposure risk for medical personnel. The risk will be greater if there are ever any gas leaks, or if staff routinely administer the gas in a poorly ventilated area.

This is why it’s essential to monitor the levels of nitrous oxide in hospitals. Our workplace exposure monitoring servicecan help you address your staff’s exposure to nitrous oxide and other potentially harmful substances.

Nitrous Oxide Environmental Risks – And The Solution

In a 2022 report, the NHS discussed the environmental impact of using certain anaesthetic gases. They revealed that emissions from one bottle can produce the same amount of carbon as burning 440kg of coal.

The NHS’s long-term plan is to reduce the carbon footprint associated with anaesthetic gases by 40%. Part of this strategy involves switching to lower carbon alternatives, such as sevoflurane.

The NHS is also exploring techniques for capturing, destroying, or reusing anaesthetic gases. They estimate that capturing and destroying nitrous oxide could cut over 33% of their total anaesthetic emissions.

There’s also a focus on cutting down on nitrous oxide wastage. Up to 30% of nitrous oxide may remain in cannisters after use. This residual gas can carry an environmental risk if it leaks, and recycling or reusing it can prove difficult.

We Can Help You Address The Risks of Nitrous Oxide in Your Hospital

Nitrous oxide leaks in your hospital contribute to your overall carbon footprint, and they may also present long-term workplace exposure risks for your personnel.

Keeping on top of equipment maintenance can help prevent leaks. It’s also important to ensure that any area of your hospital where nitrous oxide or other anaesthetic gases are administered is as well-ventilated as possible.

Yet if you want to address the exposure risks in your hospital, first you will need to understand the risks. This is where we can help. Our workplace exposure monitoring service can help you address your staff’s exposure to nitrous oxide and other potentially harmful substances.

We can provide a comprehensive report including discussions and recommendations based upon our findings. In this way, we can help you meet your COSHH obligations wherever your staff are exposed to hazardous substances in your hospital.

For information on our workplace exposure monitoring services, give us a call on 0845 226 0185 email us at info@cairntechnology.com

Greenwashing in Healthcare – How to Take Effective Action

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In recent years, growing numbers of healthcare providers have been accused of “greenwashing”.

In this post we’ll explore what greenwashing in healthcare is, and what it looks like. We’ll also explore some ways you can ensure your environmental performance delivers in practice, and not just on paper.

What is Greenwashing?

“Greenwashing” essentially means that there’s a disconnect between your environmental policies and your environmental practices. It means that you might describe your services and your operations as environmentally responsible and sustainable, when in reality your practices are not nearly as green as they seem.

Why Does Greenwashing Happen?

Greenwashing isn’t always intentional. Sometimes it can happen by accident, when managers overlook certain processes, or when staff members or service users do not properly follow certain procedures.

But increasingly, people want to know that the services they use are taking steps to address the environmental impact of their operations. So if you claim to be green, then you must ensure you deliver on your promises. Otherwise, you could be misleading the public. And in healthcare settings, overlooking the environmental impact of certain processes can also carry some health risks.

What Does Greenwashing Look Like in Healthcare?

Your healthcare setting might set an environmental policy, and you might make certain declarations, and set certain aims, in your internal documents and communications. You might also communicate your environmental goals to your staff and patients, via onsite posters, leaflets, brochures, and even press releases.

If your environmental impact does not meet the standards you set in these materials, then you might be accused of greenwashing.

Examples of Greenwashing in Healthcare

How Can Healthcare Take Effective Environmental Action?

The need for effective infection prevention and control can make going green particularly challenging for healthcare settings. For example, how can a hospital commit to reducing waste when the Standard Infection Control Precautions advise using single-use items as often as possible? How can a care home embrace recycling when PPE best practice often advises disposing of items immediately after use?

The answer – and it is by no means an easy one – is to review all of your operations, from start to finish, and look for any areas where you might make any improvements to your environmental performance. And you need to do this without compromising on your operational efficiency, or your infection prevention and control processes.

Once you have reviewed your processes and established some possible areas of improvement, you need to communicate these to all staff at all levels. Your staff will be accustomed to doing things in a certain way. They might need some additional training if they need to get used to a greener way to complete a certain process.

Case Study – The Green Theatre Checklist

For some examples of how healthcare teams can improve their environmental performance without compromising on care standards or safety, take a look at the Green Theatre Checklist. This is a set of guidelines for how operating theatre teams can address their carbon footprints and work towards sustainability in surgery.

It recommends actions for every stage of surgery, from anaesthetic care to postoperative. Guidelines include:

  • Sourcing materials as locally as possible, to cut down on carbon emissions during transit.
  • Using “greener” substances wherever possible, such as sevoflurane instead of isoflurane.
  • Switching to reusable equipment wherever possible. Your PPE may always have to be single-use. But other equipment, such as underbody heaters, slide sheets, and trays, can be reusable.
  • Minimise waste. For example, follow a policy of “don’t open it unless you need it” when it comes to drugs and single-use equipment.
  • Reduce your water and energy consumption. This could include switching to automatic or peddle controlled taps. And when it comes to hand hygiene, adopt a “rub not scrub” approach: A water scrub to start the day, and alcohol rub for all subsequent procedures.

You can access and download the full Green Theatre Checklist.

Case Study – “Toxic Air at the Door of the NHS.”

The Toxic Air at the Door of the NHS report revealed that over 2,000 UK health centres are located in areas where the atmospheric concentration of particulate matter exceeds the World Health Organization’s recommended limits. This accounts for around 25% of all hospitals in the UK.

Particulate matter – including PM2.5 and PM10 – is a hazardous air pollutant that can contribute to, or worsen, a number of health conditions when inhaled. Road traffic is a major source of particulate matter. According to one study, over 20,000 respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions each year can be linked to air pollution.

Hospitals and healthcare settings might address this problem through setting strict onsite speed limits, and through banning smoking on the premises. Though as we suggested earlier, unless you also take measures to address the air quality inside your healthcare setting, then you might reasonably be accused of greenwashing.

There are two strategies you can adopt to improve the onsite air quality throughout your setting:

We Can Help You Deliver On Your Environmental Policies

At Cairn Technology, we can advise on switching to products and services that will help you cut down on unnecessary waste without compromising on your infection control or your operational efficiency.

We have a wide selection of reusable high-quality surgical instruments. Make the switch from single-use instruments and help to cut down on the waste associated with their mass production and disposal.

Take a look at our super absorbent floor mats, which cut down on the waste associated with higher volume production and waste of mats with much lower absorbency, such as inco pads.

We can also provide specialist air quality monitoring services, and we stock a complete range of hospital-grade air purifiers.

Get in touch with our friendly team of expert consultants to discuss your requirements today.

What is a Clean Air Zone: Which Hospitals Are In Clean Air Zones?

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Local authorities are introducing clean air zones in towns cities across the UK.

What is a Clean Are Zone?

Clean Air Zones are designated areas where authorities will take targeted action to improve the local air quality. The measures mainly involve targeting vehicle emissions with charges for any vehicles that exceed certain emission standards. There may also be reduced speed limits in clean air zones, which have been shown to have an impact on air quality.

Why Are Authorities Introducing Clean Air Zones?

The Government’s Clean Air Zone framework states that clean air zones are being introduced with a specific focus on reducing NO2 concentrations.

What is NO2?

NO2 is nitrous dioxide, a harmful chemical compound that’s mainly formed in the combustion of fossil fuels. You can read our full guide to the health risks associated with NO2.

But NO2 is not the only hazardous or toxic air pollutant found in vehicle exhaust fumes. Clean air zones can also help reduce levels of particulate matter, including PM10 and PM2.5.

The Different Types of Clean Air Zones

There are four types of clean air zones – Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D. Each class denotes the type of vehicle to which restrictions apply:

  • Class A – Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles.
  • Class B – All of the vehicles included in Class A, along with heavy goods vehicles.
  • Class C – All of the vehicles included in Class A and Class B, along with vans and minibuses.
  • Class D – All of the vehicles included in Class A, Class B, and Class C, as well as cars. In Class D clean air zones, the local authority may also include motorcycles.

Which UK Cities Have Clean Air Zones?

Currently, seven UK cities have clean air zones:

  • Bath – Class C, 1.2 square miles.
  • Birmingham – Class D, 2.96 square miles.
  • Bradford – Class C, 9.35 square miles.
  • Bristol – Class D, 1.18 square miles.
  • Portsmouth – Class B, 1.16 square miles.
  • Sheffield – Class C, 0.9 square miles.
  • Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead) – Class C, 0.94 square miles.

Greater Manchester is also planning to introduce a clean air zone, though it’s not yet apparent what class this zone will be, or how big an area it will cover.

In addition to this, London has a separate system of low and ultra-low emissions zones (ULEZ). There is also a separate system of low emission zones (LEZ) in certain Scottish cities.

The Importance of Clean Air Zones

Clean air zones may have a positive impact on public health. For some years now there have been serious concerns about the effects of air pollution on vulnerable populations – particularly in healthcare settings.

One report found that 25% of UK hospitals are located in areas with dangerously high levels of air pollution. A further study found that 60% of hospitals and NHS facilities in London are in areas that exceed air pollution limits.

Which UK Hospitals Are in Clean Air Zones?

To find out which UK hospitals are in Clean Air Zones, check this RAC Foundation clean air schemes map. In some areas there may be certain exemptions for hospital patients driving in clean air zones.

In Bristol, for example, residents do not have to pay to drive in the zones if they qualify for NHS travel costs support. This includes people on benefits such as universal credit, income support, and jobseekers allowance.

Is Your Hospital in an Area With High Pollution Levels?

If your hospital or healthcare setting is not located in a clean air zone, then you may have concerns about the pollution levels in your area, and the effects they may be having on staff, patient, and visitor health.

Cairn Technology can help you address the air quality in your hospital. We can provide specialist air quality monitoring schemes in any areas of your hospital where vulnerable patients congregate, as well as any areas where there may be exposure risks for your staff.

We also stock hospital-grade air filtration systems which can help you significantly improve the air quality in your hospital – and quickly.

Our Blueair HealthProtectTM air purifiers are fitted with advanced HEPASilent technology. This is capable of catching 99.97% of particles down to 0.1 microns, which includes PM2.5 fine air particles. But at the same time, they’ll capture many other hazardous and toxic air pollutants. They can also capture and kill 99% of viruses and bacteria.

Take a look at our specialist air purification systems for hospitals.

Managing Airborne Bacteria and Diseases in Hospitals

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During the recent pandemic, one report found that over 40,000 people may have been infected with Covid-19 while being treated in hospital for another condition.

This study highlights the vital importance of managing airborne bacteria and diseases in hospitals and other healthcare settings. These are places where individuals with high infection rates can gather and interact with each other, with staff, and with other patients. Unless adequate infection prevention and control measures are in place, infections can rapidly spread among the wider hospital population, and beyond.

What Are The Most Common Airborne Diseases in Hospitals?

Covid-19 is not the only infection that hospitals and healthcare settings need to worry about. Other common airborne bacteria and diseases include:

  • Mites
  • Seasonal cold and flu viruses
  • Mould spores
  • Staphylococcus
  • Streptococcus
  • Enterococcus

Beyond this, hospitals and healthcare settings must contend with other harmful air pollutants, including:

How Do Airborne Diseases and Bacteria Spread in Hospitals?

Most airborne diseases spread from people to people, usually via sneezes and coughs. But there are other ways these airborne pathogens and bacteria can be introduced to healthcare settings. For example, a poorly maintained heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system can lead to the development of harmful mould spores.

Also, hospital HVAC systems are supposed to filter certain pollutants from the hospital’s air supply. If a hospital’s air purification system is not working like it should, then airborne pathogens can quickly prosper and spread.

Why Air Purification Matters in Hospitals and Healthcare Settings

Obviously, nobody should enter a hospital with one condition and develop a different illness while they’re receiving treatment. But beyond this, some patient demographics are particularly vulnerable to airborne infection.

Some are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed, meaning that any infection could prove fatal. Elderly patients are also liable to experience severe symptoms in response to an infection.

Plus, hospital and healthcare staff will spend a lot of time interacting with infected people, and they may work entire shifts exposed to infected surfaces, equipment, or air. Hospitals are required by law to manage occupational risks for staff. And managing airborne viruses and bacteria is a major part of this duty of care.

How to Manage Airborne Bacteria and Diseases in Hospitals

Air purification is a hospital’s best line of defence against airborne bacteria and diseases. But there are other strategies hospitals and healthcare settings should adopt as part of a wider infection prevention and control plan.

Standard Infection Control Precautions

Every member of staff in every hospital or healthcare setting must adopt a series of Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs). These include:

  • Cough and sneeze etiquette – Catch any coughs and sneezes in a tissue, and immediately bin it. Hospitals can encourage this behaviour with posters, and through providing plenty of tissues, handwashing facilities, and bins for disposal.
  • Hand hygiene – Staff should perform a specific hand hygiene technique both before and after touching patients, and after touching a patient’s immediate surroundings. The hand hygiene procedure should also precede any clean or antiseptic procedures and follow any body fluid exposure risk.
  • Patient placement – Hospitals and healthcare settings should assess every patient’s infection risk the moment they arrive. If possible, any patients demonstrating a high risk of cross-infection should be isolated from any patients with a high infection risk.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Airborne Bacteria and Diseases

PPE can act as a barrier against common infection vectors, such as coughs, sneezes, and bodily fluids. Hospitals and healthcare settings should follow a series of PPE protocols relating to storage, use, and disposal.

Read our full guide to deciding on what type of PPE to use for each procedure. We also have a detailed guide to the factors you should consider when choosing PPE for your healthcare setting.

Cleaning Procedures for Airborne Infections

As we’ll discuss in more depth below, air purification is the most vital aspect of managing airborne viruses and bacteria in hospitals and healthcare settings. But it’s also important to follow robust cleaning procedures for surfaces and equipment, or any other areas where airborne pathogens may settle and thrive.

Guidelines might include:

  • Thoroughly cleaning any reusable equipment before use and storing them in a sterile environment until they’re required.
  • Regular floor and surface cleaning – including the use of hospital grade cleaning products.
  • Effective zoning of the healthcare environment based on the levels of cleanliness, the presence of microorganisms, and the types of procedures carried out.

You can read our complete guide to cleaning for infection control in healthcare settings.

Air Filtration

The above measures are critical to an effective infection prevention and control strategy. But nothing is more effective against airborne viruses and diseases than hospital grade air filtration systems.

For example, a study by the University of Cambridge found that an air filtration system in a Covid-19 ward served to successfully remove almost 100% of the virus from the air.

Different areas of a hospital or healthcare setting will have different air filtration requirements. Waiting rooms and other public areas will need a good supply of clean air to prevent the spread of infection among staff and inpatients.

Operating theatres and other treatment areas will have much more substantial air filtration needs, with a set number of air changes per hour (ACH). And any areas where immunosuppressed or immunocompromised patients might gather will also need a totally dependable system for filtering and destroying airborne pathogens.

Read our full guide to air filtration systems in hospitals here. Also be sure to browse our range of HealthProtect air purifiers, which are specifically designed to help hospitals and other healthcare settings manage the risks of airborne viruses and bacteria. They can deliver complete filtration every 12.5 minutes in rooms as large as 62m² trapping and killing up to 99% of viruses and bacteria – including the Covid-19 virus.

Want to talk about how we can help you manage airborne diseases in your hospital? Get in touch to talk to one of our air purification experts today.

Health and Wellbeing and Indoor Environmental Quality in Buildings – A Guide to BS 40102-1:2023

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BS 40102-1:2023 – Health and Wellbeing and Indoor Environmental Quality in Buildings is a new code of practice which launched in April 2023.

In this post we’ll explain what BS 40102-1:2023 entails and discuss how you can meet the new regulations in your workplace.

What is BS 40102?

This new code of practice outlines a monitoring and reporting strategy for assessing wellbeing and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of non-domestic buildings. It establishes a rating system for benchmarking the quality of the:

  • Air
  • Light
  • Thermal comfort
  • Acoustics and soundscape

With these benchmark scores, facility managers can identify any problematic areas and make any necessary improvements.

BS 40102 applies to all forms of non-domestic buildings, existing or new.

Why Has ‘Health and Wellbeing and Indoor Environmental Quality in Buildings’ Been Introduced?

The BSI Group acknowledges that previous regulations, coupled with certain commercial pressures, encouraged designers, builders, and facility managers to prioritise energy efficiency. All too often, a focus on energy efficiency means that the health and wellbeing of a building’s occupants gets overlooked. For instance, a building might be constructed with efficient insulation, but with little thought given to the quality of ventilation and light levels.

These new standards will help facility managers and others improve the IEQs of the buildings they oversee. Improving IEQ can help reduce operating costs through increasing energy efficiency. But for hospitals and other healthcare settings, addressing IEQ can help improve staff and patient health and wellbeing while contributing to infection prevention and control.

BS 40102 Air Quality Standards

When it comes to air quality, BS 40102 outlines rating systems for:

Example Indoor Environmental Quality Benchmarks

Below are the BS 40102 rating systems for two forms of particulate matter – PM2.5 and PM10.

PM2.5

Level Description 24 Hour Average (μg/m3)
0 Very High ≥32
1 High 16 – <32
2 Acceptable 10 – <16
3 Low 5 – <10
4 Very Low <5

 

PM10

Level Description 24 Hour Average (μg/m3)
0 Very High ≥68
1 High 46 – <68
2 Acceptable 30– <46
3 Low 10 – <30
4 Very Low <10

 

How Cairn Technology Can Help You Meet BS 40102 Regulations

We can measure the air quality throughout your healthcare setting and monitor your staff’s exposure levels to any potentially harmful substances. As well as the hazardous pollutants covered by BS 40102, we can also test for levels of sevoflurane, isoflurane, Entonox, and more. This will help you understand your risk levels so you can devise an air quality solution that works for you. Head here to learn more about our bespoke air quality monitoring services.

We also stock a range of specialist air purification systems. Our Blueair HealthProtectTM  air purifiers are fitted with advanced HEPASilent technology. This is capable of catching 99.97% of particles down to 0.1 microns, including PM2.5 fine air particles, as well as VOCs, dust, mould, and up to 99% of viruses and bacteria. Browse our full range of hospital grade air purifiers.

Pollution & Air Quality A-Z Glossary

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Air quality consultants tend to use a lot of specialist terminology and acronyms when discussing pollution and air quality. This post is an essential A-Z glossary to help you understand various aspects of air pollution and quality.

Want to learn more about air purifiers and filtration? Be sure to check out our air purifier and filter buying guide A-Z.

Air Monitoring

An air quality monitoring technique in which consultants take a number of samples over a set period of time, to monitor how the air quality in an environment may change across this time. Read our full guide to air monitoring techniques.

Air Pollution

Air is considered polluted when it contains potentially hazardous levels of solid particle and chemical pollutants. Read our full guide to the sort of particles and chemicals that can pollute air supplies.

Air Quality

A measure of the relative purity of air. High quality air contains low levels of solid particle and chemical pollutants.

Air Quality Index

A real-time snapshot of the relative air quality in a given area, along with factors that might affect pollution levels (such as temperature and wind direction), and any current alerts and warnings. You can see an air quality index for the UK.

Air Sampling

An air quality monitoring technique in which consultants take a sample of the air in an environment. This provides a snapshot of the air quality in a given area as it was at that time. Read our full guide to air monitoring techniques.

DEFRA

The UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. DEFRA releases periodic air pollution forecasts, along with health advice and air pollution alerts. View an up-to-date DEFRA forecast.

Emissions

A general term for certain types of air pollution, referring to “emissions of air pollutants”. Examples include road traffic, natural fires, and certain industrial, construction and agricultural processes. You can read a DEFRA summary of UK air pollution emissions.

European Environment Agency

A European Union agency that provides independent information about environmental matters including air quality and air pollution. Learn more about the European Environment Agency.

Hazardous and Toxic Air Pollutant

Any pollutant found in the air which is known or suspected to be harmful to health and the environment. Examples include particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds, and sulphur dioxide. Read our complete guide to hazardous and toxic air pollutants.

HEPA Filter

High-efficiency particulate air filter, capable of trapping up to 99.97% of all airborne particles down to 0.1 microns. Read our full guide to what a HEPA filter is and how it works.

PM1

Particulate Matter (PM), a hazardous and toxic air pollutant. The number refers to the size of the particle in micrometres. PM1 contains particles with a diameter of 1 micrometre or smaller. Examples include smoke, bacteria, and pollen.

PM2.5

Particulate Matter (PM), a hazardous and toxic air pollutant. The number refers to the size of the particle in micrometres. PM2.5 contains particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or smaller. Examples include dust and pet dander. As the particles are so small, when inhaled they can travel deep into your lungs and enter your bloodstream. Read our full guide to PM2.5.

PM10

Particulate Matter (PM), a hazardous and toxic air pollutant. The number refers to the size of the particle in micrometres. PM10 contains particles with a diameter of 10 micrometres or smaller, which includes viruses. Read our full guide to PM10.

PRTR

The UK Pollutant Release and Transfer Register. A UK inventory for pollution from industrial sources that’s released to the air, as well as to water and soil. Access the latest PRTR information.

Public Health England

A government body that analyses and advises on all aspects of public health in England. You can read their latest guidance on the effects of air pollution on human health.

Sick Building Syndrome

A large concentration of VOCs (see below) in an indoor atmosphere can lead to “sick building syndrome”. Anyone spending extended periods of time in such an environment may experience a number of symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, nausea, and eyes, nose and throat irritation.

UVC

UVC stands for ultraviolet C. This is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 200 and 290 nanometres. UVC light can kill viruses and bacteria in the atmosphere. Read our full guide to the use of UVC in air purification.

VOCs

Volatile organic compounds. An example of a hazardous and toxic air pollutant. Common sources of VOCs include combustion (such as smoking, heating, cooking and candle burning), petrol vapours, air fresheners, and cleaning products. Read our full guide to VOCs.

Want to Know More About Air Pollution and Air Quality?

We can help you improve the air quality in your workplace. Our exposure monitoring services can give you a reliable picture of the air pollution threats in your area, and we can advise on steps you can take to improve the air quality for everyone.

Get in touch to talk to one of our friendly air quality consultants today.

What Are Atmospheric Pollutants and Its Impact on Health

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An atmospheric pollutant is an airborne particle or chemical that has the potential to be hazardous to human health.

In this post we’ll discuss some of the most common types of atmospheric pollutants, and their causes. We’ll also explore how you can manage the risks of atmospheric pollutants in your workplace.

What Are Natural Atmospheric Pollutants?

Some atmospheric pollutants are created by natural processes – such as plants and the sea. These natural atmospheric pollutants can contribute to, or worsen, existing allergies and lung conditions. They can also pose certain environmental risks, such as contributing to weathering, erosion, and smog formation.

Examples include:

  • Ocean spray, which can contain dissolved salt and CO2.
  • Volcanoes, which can create particulate matter, along with a number of potentially harmful gases.
  • Pollen, which is naturally released by trees, plants, and grasses.

What Atmospheric Pollutants Are Caused By Human Activity?

The majority of atmospheric pollutants form as a result of human activity, including:

  • Road traffic emissions.
  • Burning fossil fuels (wood and coal) and other energy generation processes.
  • Industrial processes.
  • Manufacturing processes.
  • Agricultural processes.

Below we’ll discuss some of the major atmospheric pollutants caused by human activity, in turn.

What is Particulate Matter?

Particulate matter (PM) is a hazardous air pollutant composed of small particles that are invisible to the naked eye.

Examples of particulate matter include:

  • PM1 – In which the particles have a diameter of 1 micrometre or smaller. Examples include smoke, bacteria, and pollen.
  • 5 – In which the particles have a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or smaller. Examples include dust and pet dander. You can read our full guide to PM2.5.
  • PM10 – In which the particles have a diameter of 10 micrometres or smaller. Examples include the fumes from traffic and industrial processes. You can read our full guide to PM10.

Short and Long Term Exposure to Particulate Matter

Short-term exposure to particulate matter can aggravate existing conditions, including asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions. Long-term exposure to PM10 air pollution can lead to serious – even terminal – respiratory conditions, including lung cancer.

What are Nitrogen Oxides (NO and NO2)?

Nitrogen oxides are chemical compounds that are mainly formed by the combustion of fossil fuels, and during certain industrial processes.

Short and Long Term Exposure to Particulate Matter

Short-term exposure to NO2 can cause inflammation of the airways. This can increase an individual’s susceptibility to respiratory infections and allergens. Long-term exposure to NO2 can cause edema, a build-up of fluid in the lungs, leading to bronchitis or pneumonia. As a result, exposure to large amounts of NO2 can be fatal.

NO2 can also react with oxygen in the atmosphere to form ozone. Ozone gas can trigger asthma attacks and respiratory conditions, and can cause inflammation of the eyes, nose, and throat.

You can read our full guide to nitrous oxides, and the hazards they cause.

What Are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)?

The term VOC can refer to thousands of atmospheric pollutants, many of which are colourless and odourless. Though some VOCs are created by biological processes, most are created by human activity. They’re usually created as a by-product of processes including burning fuels, smoking cigarettes, or using paints, cosmetics, cleaning products, and machinery.

Short and Long Term Exposure to VOCs

Short-term exposure to VOCs can cause headaches, fatigue, nausea, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. VOCs can also exacerbate existing allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. Long-term exposure to VOCs can contribute to organ damage and may even cause some cancers.

You can read our full guide to VOCs.

“Toxic Air at the Door of the NHS”

“Toxic Air at the Door of the NHS” was a recent report that found that over 2,000 UK health centres are located in areas with dangerously high levels of atmospheric pollutants, particularly particulate matter. This includes 248 hospitals, which accounts for around 25% of all hospitals in the UK.

Is your hospital or healthcare setting located in an area with toxic air? Take a look at our guide to the best and worst areas in the UK for air pollution to find out.

In any case, there are a few active steps you can take to improve the air quality for your staff, patients, and other visitors:

Quick, Effective and Unobtrusive Hospital-Grade Air Purifiers From Cairn Technology

Our Blueair HealthProtect™ air purifiers are fitted with advanced HEPASilent™ technology. This is capable of catching 99.97% of particles down to 0.1 microns, which includes many of the most common atmospheric pollutants, such as VOCs, nitrous oxides, and particulate matter. They can also capture and kill 99% of viruses and bacteria.

Take a look at our specialist air purification systems for hospitals.

How To Manage an Outbreak of C. difficile

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Clostridium Difficile Infections (CDIs) are among the most common hospital acquired infections.

In this post we’ll discuss what C. difficile is and how it spreads. We’ll then explore how robust cleaning protocols and procedures can help you manage a C. diff outbreak.

What is C. difficile?

Clostridium difficile is a type of bacteria which usually lives harmlessly in your bowels. However, certain antibiotic treatments can change the balance of bacteria in the gut, which can trigger a C. difficile infection.

Symptoms of C. difficile Infection

Common symptoms of a C. difficile infection include:

  • Diarrhoea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Stomach ache
  • Nausea
  • High temperatures

How is C. diff Transmitted?

As one of the main symptoms of C. diff is diarrhoea, C. diff infections can spread quickly. When outside the body, the C. diff bacteria can turn into spores which are capable of surviving for long periods on hands, surfaces, objects, clothing, and linen.

Without regular washing and cleaning, it’s all too easy for these spores to transmit from a surface to a person’s mouth, which could result in an infection. For example, a person might touch a surface containing C. diff spores with their hand. They might then, without thinking, wipe their mouth with their hand.

Read our full guide to how communicable diseases spread.

What Places are Most At Risk of a C. diff Outbreak?

Any healthcare setting where patients or residents share facilities is particularly at risk of a C. diff outbreak.

This might include:

  • Care homes
  • GP clinics
  • Hospital wards
  • Dental surgeries

Who is Most At Risk of a C. diff Infection?

As well as people taking certain antibiotic treatments, people aged 65 or over are particularly at risk of C. difficile infections.

How to Manage a C. diff Outbreak

A person with a C. diff infection may carry an infection risk until 48 hours after their symptoms have passed. So ideally, anyone with a C. diff infection should stay at home until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have cleared up. Though in a healthcare setting such as a care home or a hospital, this might not be possible.

As a result, only stringent cleaning procedures and protocols can help prevent and control C. diff outbreaks:

  • Practice good hand hygiene. Staff should adopt the appropriate hand washing technique, and commit to washing their hands at certain key moments – such as before and after touching patients or their surroundings. You should also provide patients and residents with appropriate hand sanitiser so that they too can practice effective hand hygiene.
  • Clean the care environment as often as possible. Your cleaning procedures should already ensure you’re carrying out thorough cleaning at least once a day. But your cleaning procedures should intensify in the event of an outbreak, paying particular attention to any surfaces that people might touch, such as toilets, light-switches, and door handles.
  • Wash any contaminated clothes and sheets as soon as possible, and separately from other washing.
  • Advise visitors to take extra precautions – or to avoid visiting completely – for the duration of the outbreak.

Read our full guide to managing outbreaks in care homes.

How We Can Help You Manage a C. diff Outbreak

We stock an advanced range of highly effective cleaning and containment products that will help you prevent and control C. diff and other infections in your care setting.

Our range includes:

  • Virusolve+ Wipes – A one-step solution, all-in-one cleaner, sanitiser, and disinfectant that can kill C diff bacteria on surfaces in as little as 5 minutes. It then creates a residual barrier that can help prevent infection for up to 7 days. You can use them on any surface, including carpets, upholstery, and mattresses. Also available as a trigger spray and a concentrate.
  • Virusan – Antimicrobial hand sanitiser and hand scrub capable of removing up to 99.999% of the most common germs in less than a minute, designed to eliminate the risk of cross-infection from hand transfer within 30 seconds of application. Also available as a gel.

We also stock hospital-grade air purifiers. In the event of a C. diff outbreak, they can quickly and effectively catch and kill airborne spores, completely cycling the air in a room in as little as 12.5 minutes.

For more information about how we can help you manage C. diff outbreaks in your care setting, call us on 0333 015 4345 or email info@cairntechnology.com.