Diathermy Smoke Plume Management & Guidance

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What is a Diathermy Smoke Plume?

A diathermy smoke plume – also known as surgical smoke – is an emission created by certain surgical procedures that involve the use of heat to destruct tissue or seal bleeding vessels. Diathermy smoke plumes can contain numerous harmful chemicals, along with viruses, bacteria, and particulate matter.

What Causes Surgical Smoke?

Many devices can produce diathermy smoke plums, including lasers, ultrasonic devices, and high speed drills and burrs.

Diathermy Smoke Exposure

Exposure can lead to viral transmission along with certain acute health conditions, including asthma and asthma-like symptoms. And little is known about the long-term effects of chronic exposure to diathermy smoke plumes.

Read our full guide to the hazards associated with diathermy smoke plumes.

Diathermy Smoke Plume Management

Healthcare providers around the world have devised recommended practices, guidelines, standards and regulations concerning diathermy smoke plumes.

The best defence against smoke plumes is the practitioner. An AORN publication advised that practitioners should “use available tools and knowledge to minimise exposure to surgical smoke. Until there are regulations that reduce the occupational hazard of surgical smoke, become an expert in what can be done.” (Emphasis ours.)

In this post, we’ll explore some of the common best-practice guidelines concerning diathermy smoke plume management.

Electrosurgery Hazard Training and Support

First, all healthcare settings should have procedures in place that address the hazards associated with electrosurgery, including the risks of diathermy smoke plumes.

Also, any practitioner that may work with electrosurgical equipment, or who may be exposed to diathermy smoke plumes, should receive appropriate training to help them understand the risks and minimise their exposure.

Key things to cover in this training include:

  • The different types of electrosurgery equipment – the function and correct use of each, and how to minimise the associated risks.
  • How to rectify simple problems, and avoid risks to other theatre staff.
  • How to store electrosurgical items during procedures when they’re not in use.

Electrosurgical Equipment Storage & Management

There should be specific procedures in place regarding the use, storage and management of electrosurgical equipment.

Staff should be able to tell whether electrosurgical machines are in good order, and whether they’ve been correctly maintained. They should therefore know which checks to make prior to use.

To reduce the risks of smoke plumes and other health hazards, electrosurgical teams should aim to use the lowest power setting possible for safe and effective cutting and coagulation.

Patient Preparation

Practitioners should be familiar with preparing patients for procedures. But there are certain factors that may affect the use of electrosurgery:

  • The patient’s age, weight and fat distribution.
  • Active implants, such as pacemakers. Cardiologist teams may need to perform additional checks before and after the operation.
  • Considerations regarding the return electrode – such as the patient’s allergy to the electrode gel, and the position of the electrode in relation to the patient, the surgical site, and any scars, metal implants or other foreign bodies.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

As is always the case, it’s important to choose the right PPE for the right procedure.

When performing procedures that might produce surgical smoke, a standard surgical mask may not be adequate, as it may not filter out the small particles contained within the diathermy smoke plume.

So instead, practitioners should use a properly fitted facepiece respirator, such as an N95.

It’s important to test the respirator’s seal to ensure a correct fit. A specialist face fit testing service can help you ensure that all members of the electrosurgical team can depend on their respirators to protect them from the harmful effects of diathermy smoke plumes.

Smoke Evacuation Systems

Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is one of the best defences against the risks of surgical smoke. This involves using specialist smoke extraction systems to remove the diathermy smoke plume at source. This, coupled with adequate PPE and a resilient and informed electrosurgical team, will make a huge difference in managing the risks of diathermy smoke plumes in operating theatres.

Operating theatres are generally well-ventilated, with strict regulations advising a set number of air changes per hour. But on top of these advanced air filtration systems, additional air purification units can help control any excess smoke created by procedures.

The Blueair Health Protect 7440i Air Purifier can completely filter the air in a room of up to 38m² the suggested 4.8 times per hour. Its advanced filters can trap and kill up to 99.9% of potentially harmful particles in the air down to 0.1 micron. This includes viruses, bacteria, and the hazardous chemicals contained in diathermy smoke plumes.

As well as supplying specialist air purifiers for healthcare settings, we also offer bespoke air quality monitoring systems. We can monitor your practitioner’s exposure to diathermy smoke plumes, before presenting you with a detailed report complete with actionable recommendations.

Further Guidance

 

How to Clean & Prevent Infection in GP Waiting Rooms

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Every year, the UK is hit by multiple viruses. Some of these are seasonal, including influenza A, influenza B, RSV, and rhinovirus. And of course, we must now live with Covid-19 alongside these common viruses.

GP waiting rooms can inadvertently help spread infection. Patients may visit their GP about an unrelated condition, but leave having caught a new infection.

In this post, we’ll explore some of the measures GP surgeries can adopt to prevent and control the risks of infection, through the winter months and beyond.

New IPC Guidance Policies for GP Surgeries

The NHS Infection Prevention and Control team (IPC) released a new set of policies in July 2021. For more information, you can read the latest IPC guidelines for general practice.

Some of the advised measures include:

  • Site specific policies. All GP surgeries should have effective infection prevention control policies relevant for their practice. It should be regularly updated and accessible to all. Also, all surgeries should appoint an IPC lead, who has the authority to implement change where it’s needed.
  • The IPC policy should cover staff training requirements, and specify how frequently staff should receive training updates.
  • Contractors should follow a general cleaning schedule. This should include detailed guidelines for specific areas, fixtures, and fittings, with priority given to high-frequency touch items including door handles and light switches.
  • The IPC policy should advise on what PPE to use, and when. It should also cover staff training in effective use and disposal of PPE.

Cleaning & Infection Control in GP Waiting Rooms

Cleaning Waiting Room Soft Furnishings

Viruses and bacteria can linger and spread in the fibres of carpets and curtains. For this reason, clinical areas should not have carpets. But there should be clear policies in place for the frequency of cleaning carpets, curtains, and other soft furnishings in waiting rooms. There should also be specific guidelines to follow should any item of furniture get contaminated with body fluids or spillages.

Hand Hygiene in GP Waiting Rooms

All staff and patients should have access to adequate handwashing facilities. Staff should follow standard hand hygiene protocols. All patients should be encouraged to wash their hands as frequently as possible, and ideally before and after they interact with doors, light switches, and other possible infection vectors.

Cough and Sneeze Etiquette Communication

Catch it, bin it, kill it. All staff and patients should cover their nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when sneezing, coughing, wiping or blowing. They should then immediately dispose of that tissue before washing their hands. GP surgeries can promote good cough and sneeze etiquette among their patients through making the guidelines clearly visible, and through providing tissues, plastic bags for disposal, and hand hygiene facilities.

Read our full guide to standard infection control precautions. These precautions are relevant to all healthcare settings, which of course includes GP surgeries.

Ventilation Concerns for Infection Prevention and Control

GP waiting rooms are enclosed spaces where infected patients can spend extended periods of time. And in the winter months, waiting rooms are less likely to be adequately ventilated. Surgeries will keep their doors and windows closed while running their central heating. These conditions can create a hotbed of infection.

A good air purifier can completely filter the air in a room, trapping and killing any viruses that might be lingering in the atmosphere. This, combined with an effective cleaning policy, can make a huge difference in reducing the risk of infection in GP waiting rooms.

The Blueair air purifier has a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) that will completely filter the air in a GP waiting room 4.8 times an hour. It uses a series of filters to capture 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.1 micron – including many common seasonal viruses and bacteria.

You can browse our full range of air purifiers for healthcare settings.

Got some questions? Need some support? Get in touch to talk to our friendly team of expert air purification consultants.

How Many Dentists Have Left the NHS?

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In the past few years, thousands of dentists have left the NHS.

How Many NHS Dentists Are There?

According to one report, at the end of 2020 there were 23,733 dentists providing NHS care in England. By the end of January 2022, this figure had fallen to 21,544.

As each dentist manages a caseload of around 2,000 patients , this mass desertion has lead to the creation of “dental deserts”, leaving approximately four million people without access to dental care on the NHS.

It looks like the problem is only going to get worse, too. According to the British Dental Association (BDA), 75% of UK dentists are likely to reduce, or further reduce, their NHS commitment over the next 12 months. 45% claim they’re going to go fully private, and 47% suggest they’re either going to change career or seek early retirement.

Why Are So Many Dentists Leaving the NHS?

Shawn Charlwood, chair of the BDA’s General Dental Practice Committee, attributes the mass exodus to dentists feeling “overstretched and underfunded” during and after the recent Covid-19 pandemic.

According to BDA figures, 87% of UK dentists have experienced symptoms of stress, burnout and other mental health problems over the last 12 months. And it seems that patients, frustrated by the lack of available NHS dentist appointments, may be taking out their anger on staff. 86% of UK dentist report that colleagues in their practice have received physical or verbal abuse from patients.

What’s the Problem with the NHS Dental Contract?

The BDA argues that the current NHS dental contract, which has been in place since 2006, “puts government contracts ahead of patient need”.

For years, this contract set untenable incentives. For example, dentists would receive the same renumeration for doing one filling as they would for doing 10. It’s for such reasons that the Health Select Committee described the contract as “unfit for purpose”.

NHS Dental Contract Changes in 2022/23

In July 2022, the government announced a number of changes to the NHS dental contract. These included:

  • A new minimum payment for hitting targets.
  • A higher reward for treating three or more teeth.
  • Dental therapists can now accept patients for certain NHS treatments, freeing up dentists’ time for more urgent and complex procedures.
  • New payment rates for more complex treatments.
  • Updates to the NHS website and directory of services to help patients find dentists in their local area.

The BDA argued that these new contractual arrangements “do not even begin to address the system’s fundamental flaws… this is another attempt to conjure up more capacity without adding any new investment.”

The Collapse of Dentistry on the NHS?

In September 2022, NHS England released on update on the reforms their dental contract changes for 2022/2023.

The BDA, who previously claimed that “dentists are simply not seeing a future in the NHS”, seems cautiously optimistic that these changes may make a difference. However, they’ve also described these changes as “modest and marginal”, claiming that dentistry needs an immediate funding injection of £880m to stabilise the situation in the short-term.

Eddie Crouch, chairman of the BDA, called for “real commitment; root-and-branch reform and adequate funding.”

And unless the government makes this “real commitment” soon, it seems that dentists will continue to leave the NHS, and those “dental deserts” will continue to grow.

A Message to Dental Patients

Despite the problems many are having seeing a dentist on the NHS, Chief Dental Officer for England Sara Hurley said that anyone experiencing tooth issues should contact their local dentist as usual.

She said: “Infection prevention and control measures to protect staff and patients were introduced during the pandemic. These limited the number of procedures NHS dentists could carry out.”

“However, these restrictions have now been lifted enabling practices to operate at full capacity for the first time in two years, so anyone with concerns about their dental health should contact their local dentist as they usually would or seek advice from NHS 111.”

A Message to Dental Surgeries

We know that the last few years have been difficult and that you’ve probably had to deal with higher levels of staff absences due to infection. We’d love you to see how,  by installing our Blueair air purifiers in your surgery, you can tacklethis issue and reduce illness. Why not get in touch with us to find out how we can support you?

Smoking Outside Hospitals: Bans, Laws & Guidelines

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In March 2022, Scotland banned smoking outside hospital buildings.

Smoking Ban Outside Hospital Rules in Scotland

The new legislation aims to achieve the following:

  • To introduce an enforceable smoke-free perimeter of 15 metres outside of hospital buildings.
  • To support the denormalisation of smoking on hospital grounds. This, in turn, should help reduce tobacco use across the population.
  • To reinforce the NHS’s position as “an exemplar of health promotion within society”.
  • To support people in their efforts to stop smoking.

A secondary aim of the legislation is to prevent and reduce hospital staff and patients’ exposure to second-hand smoke at entrances, and near windows and vents.

The policy became law in September 2022. Now, anyone caught smoking within 15 metres of a hospital building in Scotland could be fined up to £1,000.

Smoking Outside Hospitals Rules Across the UK?

Scotland was not the first UK home nation to ban smoking outside hospitals. Northern Ireland banned smoking on the grounds of any hospital in 2016. However, the law allows for designated smoking rooms “with strict conditions” in care homes and hospices.

Wales introduced legislation in March 2021 requiring all hospital grounds to be smoke-free, with £100 fines for anyone found breaking the law.

England is yet to see an enforceable blanket ban on smoking outside hospitals. However, a 2019 Public Health England (PHE) report found that 69% of NHS trusts in England have banned smoking completely. So it may only be a matter of time before England joins the rest of the UK in outright banning smoking outside hospitals.

How to Improve Air Quality in and Around Hospitals

A recent report found that 25% of UK hospitals are situated in areas with dangerously high levels of air pollution. Improving air quality is a question of reducing the levels of pollutants and other hazardous substances in the atmosphere.

Preventing staff, patients and other visitors from smoking within a certain radius of a hospital can make a positive difference to air quality, as it makes it effectively impossible for harmful second-hand smoke to enter the hospital’s air via doors, windows or vents.

But this is just one strategy by which hospitals can improve the air quality on their premises:

  • Strict speed limits – Where possible, hospitals should aim to limit the amount of traffic allowed onsite. But as this may not be practical, they should instead enforce strict speed limits for all onsite traffic. The faster a vehicle travels, the more fuel it burns, and the more harmful emissions it creates. Read our full guide to how speed limits can make a difference to air quality.
  • Air quality consultations – Specialist air quality consultants can test the air quality in key locations in and around the hospital. As well as measuring for air pollution levels in public areas of the hospital, they can also test for staff and patient exposure to potentially harmful substances in clinical settings. Read our full guide to how air quality consultants can help reduce air pollution.
  • Air filtration and purification – Hospitals can use an advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, along with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to regulate airflow and improve air quality through removing viruses, bacteria, and other harmful substances from the atmosphere. Read our full guide to effective air filtration in healthcare settings.

Need a reliable air purification system for your hospital? Take a look at our advanced range of HealthProtect air purifiers for healthcare settings.

Book An Air Quality Consultation For Your Hospital

Unless you’re one of the few remaining NHS trusts in England who still allow for smoking outside hospitals, it’s very likely that your healthcare setting is already benefiting from a reduction in harmful second-hand smoke.

However, even with a smoking ban in place, your hospital may still be at risk from air pollution – particularly if you’re situated near a major road. On top of this, to meet your COSHH obligations, you also need to monitor your staff and patients’ exposure to certain hazardous substances within your hospital.

We offer specialist air quality monitoring for healthcare settings. Our consultants employ both continuous monitoring and personal sampling techniques to demonstrate how pollutant levels in your atmosphere vary over a specified period. As a result, we can produce comprehensive reports based on our findings, including actionable recommendations to help you make a positive difference to your onsite air quality.

Find out more about our Air Quality Monitoring Services or get in touch to talk to one of our experts.

Omicron BA.4 and BA.5: Transmissibility & Symptoms

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Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 are two of the most recent subvariants of Covid-19 to be detected.

These two subvariants were first detected in South Africa in the early months of 2022. Each variant appears to be an offshoot of the previous BA.2 variant.

How Transmissible are Omicron BA.4 and BA.5?

A virus’s basic reproduction number (R0) is the average number of people an initial case can infect in a population with no immunity, either from vaccines or previous infection. The original Omicron strain (BA.1) had an R0 of 9.5. BA.2, of which BA.4 and BA.5 appear to be offshoots, was estimated to be 1.4 times more transmissible than BA.1.

Studies from South Africa suggest that BA.4 and BA.5 may be more transmissible than BA.2. So BA.4 and BA.5 could be the most infections variants of Omicron yet.

On top of this, these variants appear to be good at evading immunity. This means there’s a greater chance of reinfection with these strains compared to previous strains.

What Are The Symptoms of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5?

Like previous Omicron variants, BA.4 and BA.5 brings numerous flu-like symptoms. These include:

  • Coughing, sneezing, and a blocked or runny nose
  • Aches, pains, and fatigue
  • Sore throat and a hoarse voice
  • Chills, shivers, and fever
  • Loss of smell, or an altered sense of smell
  • Tight chest and shortness of breath

Preventing and Controlling Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 Infection

Data from South Africa and the UK suggest that BA.4 and BA.5 waves may not be associated with an increase in severe disease and death.

Nonetheless, this highly transmissible strain may still pose a risk to elderly and immunocompromised people, and to people with certain underlying health conditions. On top of this, extensive infections may place a further strain on an already overburdened health service.

Strategies for Preventing the Spread of Covid-19 Variants in Healthcare Settings

We’ve put together an essential guide to preventing the spread of Covid-19 in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

Strategies include:

  • Standard infection control precautions, such as effective hand hygiene and good respiratory and cough etiquette.
  • Effective PPE use, including proper protocols for putting on and taking off equipment.
  • Cleaning for infection prevention and control, with specific procedures depending on the setting.

Read our full guide to preventing the spread of Covid-19 in healthcare settings.

Air Filtration for Effective Infection Control

Like the previous variants, BA.4 and BA.5 are airborne viruses. A recent report from the University of Cambridge demonstrated how an air filtration system in a Covid-19 ward successfully removed almost all traces of the airborne virus.

In public and communal areas of healthcare settings, including waiting rooms, canteens, wards and corridors, air filtration systems can make a huge difference in preventing the spread of BA.4 and BA.5. They trap and kill viruses, bacteria and other harmful particles while quietly filling rooms with cleaner, healthier air.

Our range of HealthProtect air purifiers can completely filter the air in a room as large as 62m² once every 12.5 minutes. The advanced filters can trap up to 99.97% of particles down to 0.1 microns, and up to 99% of viruses and bacteria – including the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants.

We can help you in your fight against Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses this winter and beyond. Get in touch to talk to one of our infection control experts today.

What is PM2.5 And Why is it a Risk to Hospital Patients?

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Air pollution and quality is a key concern for everyone, particularly in hospitals and healthcare settings where people can spend long periods of time or be clinically vulnerable.

What is PM2.5?

PM2.5 is a hazardous air pollutant. It is composed of particulate matter (PM) that has an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometres or smaller.

Where Does PM2.5 Come From?

There are many possible sources of PM2.5. Natural particles such as pollen and sea spray are both examples of potentially hazardous particulate matter. But human activity can create the most harmful forms of particulate matter. Wood burning, industrial and agricultural processes, manufacturing, and road traffic can increase the concentration of PM2.5 in the atmosphere.

The Health Risks of PM2.5

As these particles are so small, PM2.5 is invisible to the naked eye. But when inhaled, PM2.5 particles are small enough to pass through the lungs and enter your bloodstream. And once these particles are in your bloodstream, they may make their way to your heart, brain, and other organs.

Long-Term Exposure to PM2.5

This is why prolonged exposure to PM2.5 can result in serious illness. It is particularly hazardous for children, elderly people, and people with allergies and respiratory problems. Inhaling particulate matter can make existing conditions worse. But in the long-term, exposure can lead to the development of serious lung conditions.

Toxic Air at the Door of the NHS

The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises a maximum concentration of PM2.5 of 10μg/m3 for the annual average.

A recent report by Asthma + Lung UK found that more than 2,000 UK health centres are located in areas where PM2.5 levels are in excess of the WHO’s limit.

The report, Toxic Air at the Door of the NHS, found that 2,220 GP practices and 248 hospitals are located in areas where the concentration of PM2.5 is above 10μg/m3 for the annual average. This accounts for 1 in 3 GP surgeries and 1 in 4 hospitals in England.

If you’d like to know if your health centre is in an affected area, check our guide to the best and worst places in the UK for air pollution.

Why is PM2.5 a Risk to Hospital Patients?

PM2.5 poses a health risk for anyone. But it’s particularly hazardous for hospital patients, as many of them will already be in a vulnerable state. Air pollution can make existing conditions worse. It could even cause patients to develop additional, and potentially more serious, conditions than those for which they are undergoing treatment. (Do you have a source for to underpin this fact? If so, please reference this in the copy. If not, please just remove the sentence for now).

According to one study, over 20,200 respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions each year can be linked to air pollution.

And PM2.5 is not just a risk for hospital patients. It is also a risk for hospital staff. As they will be spending more time onsite than anyone, they could potentially get exposed to much higher levels of PM2.5. Over time, they may develop serious health conditions as a result.

How to Reduce PM2.5 Concentrations at Your Hospital

The current UK legal limits for PM2.5 concentration is almost double the WHO’s recommended limits. In the long-term, new legislation could help the whole country address this air pollution problem. But there are a number of initiatives that can help you make a significant difference in the short-term too:

Advanced Air Filtration for Hospitals and Other Healthcare Settings

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.

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

 

 

How UK Hospitals Can Stop the Spread of Covid to Inpatients

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A recent report found that more than 40,600 people were likely infected with Covid-19 while being treated in hospital in England for another reason.

What can hospitals do to protect their inpatients from infection?

In this post we’ll explore some of the measures hospitals can adopt to stop the spread of Covid, and other viruses.

Standard Infection Control Precautions

The Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) are a series of practices every member of staff in every care setting must adopt to reduce the risk of infection.

SICPs include, but are not limited to:

  • Patient Placement – You must assess every patient’s infection risk as soon as they arrive, and continuously review their risk throughout their stay. You should isolate any patients who show a high risk of cross-infection as soon as they arrive.
  • Hand Hygiene – There’s a specific hand hygiene technique designed to clean your hands as thoroughly as possible. You should perform this technique before you touch a patient; after you touch a patient; after you touch a patient’s immediate surroundings; before you undertake any clean or antiseptic procedures; and after any body fluid exposure risk.
  • Respiratory and Cough Etiquette – All staff should adopt best practice techniques, and encourage patients to do the same through providing ample tissues, hand hygiene facilities, and plastic bags for disposal.
  • Safe Waste Disposal – Each healthcare setting should have four separate waste streams with a different colour coding for each. For example, you should use yellow bags to demarcate any waste that carries a risk of infection, contamination, or other forms of harm.

For more, read a full guide to all 10 SICPs.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE protects both staff and patients from infection. It does this through acting as a barrier against common sources of infection, including coughs, sneezes, and bodily fluids.

For effective infection control, you should follow certain PPE protocols:

  • Store all PPE in a clean and dry area that’s close to the point of use.
  • Ensure all PPE is single-use only, unless specified by the manufacturer.
  • Put on and take off PPE in a specific order, practicing best practice hand hygiene techniques between each step.
  • Change PPE immediately after seeing each patient. You should also change your PPE immediately after performing each task or procedure.
  • Correctly dispose of all PPE immediately after use in the correct waste stream.

You should also ensure that the PPE you use is suitable for the task at hand. You can read our full guide to when and what type of PPE to use.

We also have a detailed guide to the factors you should consider when choosing PPE for your healthcare setting.

Cleaning for Infection Prevention and Control

Surgical site infections (SSIs) account for around 20% of total hospital-acquired infections. The risk of infection is at its highest during the operative procedure when the patient’s wounds are still open.

Common sources of infection include members of the operating team, the clothes they wear, the operating theatre environment, and the equipment used during the procedure.

All hospitals should have clear guidelines in place for keeping operating theatres aseptic, sterile, and restricted. These guidelines might include:

  • Thoroughly cleaning any reusable surgical instruments before use, and storing them in a sterile environment until they’re required.
  • Regular floor and surface cleaning – including the use of absorbent mats to capture fluids for safe disposal after procedures.
  • Effective zoning of the operating theatre complex 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 operating theatres.

Air Filtration for Infection Control

A recent University of Cambridge study found that an air filtration system in a Covid-19 ward successfully removed almost all traces of the airborne virus.

Different areas of a hospital 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, for example. And as we’ve seen, operating theatres and other treatment areas will have much more substantial air filtration needs, with a set number of air changes per hour (ACH).

You can read our full guide to air filtration systems in hospitals.

We Can Help You Control and Prevent Infection in Your Hospital

Our range of HealthProtect air purifiers are specifically designed for hospitals and other healthcare settings.

The BlueAir HealthProtect 7740i Air Purifier can deliver complete filtration every 12.5 minutes in rooms as large as 62m². Its filters can trap up to 99.97% of particles down to 0.1 microns, and up to 99% of viruses and bacteria – including the Covid-19 virus.

We also provide air purifiers for larger areas and smaller rooms.

Want to talk about how we can help reduce air pollute and improve the air quality in your hospital? Get in touch to talk to one of our air purification experts today.

25% of Hospitals in Dangerously High Levels of Air Pollution Areas

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises a maximum concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) of 10μg/m3 for the annual average. Fine particulate matter is a hazardous air pollutant. So when concentrations exceed the WHO’s recommended limits, it represents a major public health concern.

25% of Hospitals in Dangerously High Levels of Air Pollution Areas

Unfortunately, a recent report revealed that far too many UK hospitals are situated in areas with dangerously high levels of air pollution. The report, Toxic Air at the Door of the NHS, found that over 2,000 UK health centres are located in areas where the atmospheric concentration of PM2.5 exceeds the WHO’s recommended limits.

According to the report, 248 UK hospitals are located in highly polluted areas. This accounts for around 25% of all hospitals in the UK.

Want to know whether your local hospital’s in an affected area? Check our guide to the best and worst areas in the UK for air pollution.

The Risks of Fine Particulate Matter

What is Fine Particulate Matter?

When we talk about “fine particulate matter”, we’re referring to a huge variety of chemical compounds and materials that are less than 2.4 micrometres in diameter. Some of them are natural and organic. Others are man-made, and some are toxic.

Why is Fine Particulate Matter Harmful?

When a person inhales fine particulate matter, because the particles are so small, they can enter the bloodstream. And once these particles are in the bloodstream, they may make their way to the lungs, brain, heart, and other organs.

As a result, even short-term exposure to PM2.5 can aggravate existing conditions, including asthma and allergies. But long-term exposure can lead to the development of serious conditions including heart disease, strokes, and lung cancer.

The Effect of Pollution on Hospitals

Every single day, hundreds of people spend extended periods of time in hospitals. Staff at all levels work long shifts. For patients, even a short-term visit can last hours. And long-term patients will also invite visitors, who may themselves spend hours onsite.

So if the hospital’s located in an area with high levels of air pollution, every day hundreds and hundreds of people will be exposed to dangerously high levels of toxic particles.

For the staff, who spend longer than anyone else onsite, this could lead to a variety of serious health problems in the long-term. For patients, many of whom are already in a vulnerable condition, air pollution could aggravate existing symptoms, or even give them new health risks to contend with.

And for visitors, who might show up to the hospital feeling perfectly well, onsite air pollution could ensure they leave feeling significantly worse.

Besides endangering staff, patients and visitors, air pollution also gives hospitals plenty of other problems in both the short- and the long-term. According to one study, up to 20,200 respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions each year can be linked to air pollution.

At a time when NHS waiting lists are posing a serious concern, anything that can add to patient waiting times must be viewed as a major issue that requires our immediate attention.

Which Areas of the Hospital Are Most at Risk From Air Pollution?

When it comes to air pollution, some hospitals will have more to worry about than others – for example, inner-city hospitals, and any health centre located near a major road.

But for all hospitals, the most at-risk areas will be:

  • Any location frequented by members of the public, including receptions and waiting rooms.
  • Areas where the most vulnerable patients stay, including wards and communal spaces, such as gardens.
  • Any part of the hospital used by children and young people.
  • Any room of the hospital with a window facing a road.

What Can Hospitals Do To Reduce the Risks of Air Pollution?

The Asthma and Lung UK charity recently made a few suggestions for initiatives that could help address the high levels of air pollution around UK hospitals:

  • The UK government should enshrine the WHO’s recommended PM2.5 limits into law.
  • There should be more Clean Air Zones in towns and cities across the UK, where traffic flow is controlled to reduce air pollution. Read our full guide to the link between speed limits and air pollution.
  • Hospitals could start air quality monitoring schemes in places where their most vulnerable patients congregate.

How to Get Cleaner Air in Your Hospital Today

A high quality air filtration system 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. And crucially for a hospital, they can also capture and kill 99% of viruses and bacteria.

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

 

Air Quality & Pollution in GP Surgeries – The Effects

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Asthma and Lung UK recently tested air quality levels at GP surgeries and health centres across the UK.

Their report, Toxic Air at the Door of the NHS, revealed that more than 2,000 UK health centres are located in areas where the levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exceed World Health Organisation limits.

The World Health Organisation recommends a maximum concentration of fine particulate matter of 10μg/m3 for the annual average. Any concentrations above this limit pose a serious health risk.

This includes 2,220 GP practices and 248 hospitals. In England, that amounts to 1 in 3 GP surgeries and 1 in 4 hospitals.

Is your GP surgery or health centre in an area with high pollution levels? Learn more about the best and worst areas in the UK for air quality.

What is Fine Particulate Matter?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a hazardous air pollutant. It’s composed of a huge variety of chemical compounds and materials, some of which are toxic. Common sources of fine particulate matter include traffic and road transport, wood burning, industrial processes, and manufacturing. Some fine particulate matter, such as sea spray and pollen, is naturally occurring.

While natural fine particulate matter is non-toxic, it can still lead to certain health problems, particularly in people with allergies or breathing difficulties.

PM2.5, the fine particulate matter highlighted in this report, is matter composed of particles less than 2.4 micrometres in diameter.

Read our complete guide to hazardous and toxic air pollutants to learn more about fine particulate matter.

The Effects of Air Pollution in GP Surgeries

Air pollution in a GP’s surgery is a particularly critical issue, as a large proportion of people who visit the surgery will already be in a vulnerable position. It poses a risk to staff too – long-term exposure can increase the risks of developing serious lung conditions.

PM2.5 is so small that, after inhalation, it can enter the bloodstream. After this it may make its way to the heart, lungs, brain, and other organs.

So prolonged exposure to PM2.5 can lead to asthma, heart disease, strokes, and lung cancer. It can also aggravate existing conditions.

One study estimated that up to 20,200 respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions each year can be linked to air pollution.

How Can We Improve Air Quality in GP Surgeries?

The Asthma and Lung UK report makes a few recommendations for improving the air quality in GP surgeries:

Each of these initiatives could help improve air quality in GP surgeries in the long-term. But for a sustainable short-term solution, surgeries and health centres should also invest in a high quality air filtration system.

Cairn Technology carries out monitoring to investigate the levels of PM10, PM5, PM4, PM2.5, within multiple departments in hospitals to obtain baseline data to examine staff and public exposure to VOCs. This provides valuable information about the exposure of both staff members and public to VOCs and will assist in building a business case for the requirement of further air purification.

Our Blueair air purifiers are fitted with advanced HEPASilent technology, which can catch 99.97% of particles down to 0.1 microns. This includes PM2.5 fine air particles, as well as many other hazardous and toxic air pollutants. They can also capture and kill 99% of viruses and bacteria.

Take a look at our air purification systems for GP surgeries and other healthcare settings.

How Air Pollution Harms Children in Healthcare Settings

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A 2018 report revealed that thousands of UK health centres are located in areas with unsafe levels of air pollution.

The World Health Organisation recommends certain limits on the concentration of fine particulate matter in the atmosphere. This report found that over 2,000 UK health centres are located in areas where the concentration of fine particulate matter exceeds the WHO’s limits.

This means that millions of patients and practitioners in the UK may be exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution on a daily basis.

Impact of Air Pollution on Children

When inhaled, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is small enough to pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream, leading to a number of health problems.

Many vulnerable groups use UK health centres, and air pollution poses a great risk to everyone. However, trust managers might be particularly concerned with the effect that air pollution has on the children that visit their centres.

Air pollution can have a serious impact on a child’s development, as breathing polluted air can lead to fatigue and a lack of concentration. In the short term, air pollution can make existing conditions worse, such as asthmas and allergies. Long-term exposure can lead to much more serious conditions.

What Causes Air Pollution?

Here are some of the most common sources of air pollution in public areas:

  • Traffic – Vehicle emissions can contain many potentially harmful pollutants, including particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
  • Cleaning – Some cleaning products contain pollutants known as non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). Using these products in a poorly-ventilated area can lead to the creation of atmospheric formaldehyde. As well as causing irritation in the eyes and upper airways, formaldehyde is a carcinogen.
  • Mould – Mould can be an issue in any building of any age. If you don’t address a mould problem, it will spread, which can lead to mould spores in the atmosphere. Inhaling these spores can lead to a number of health problems.
  • Weather – Strong winds can carry pollutants over long distances. As well as the pollutants from traffic, winds can also bring pollutants from other sources, including farms and factories. On top of this, air pollution levels are generally higher on still or warmer days.

You can read our full guide to the numerous causes of air pollution.

How to Test Air Quality

The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) routinely publishes air pollution alerts and forecasts. You can use this service to assess the air quality in your area on any given day.

Though this service is useful, it poses certain limitations. DEFRA’s reports will give you an idea of the pollution levels across wide areas of the country. They don’t account for local air quality concerns, so you cannot rely on them for a reliable picture of the exposure risks in your area.

Our indoor air quality monitoring service can give you a much more accurate overview of the air pollution risks in your internal environment. In addition, ongoing exposure monitoring can help you determine just how at-risk individuals in your building might be. These specialist processes will give you a detailed report highlighting any problem areas, with advice on steps you can take to improve the situation.

Find out more about our air quality monitoring services for hospitals and healthcare settings and how we can help you.

We also offer a range of Blueair air purifiers. The HealthProtect range is suitable for hospital, GP and dental surgery waiting rooms, treatment rooms and other areas where pollution ingress and the transfer of bacteria and viruses is a concern.