Building new hospitals: a UK infection control perspective

Area of Science:

• Healthcare facility design
• Hospital infection prevention
• Public health engineering

Background:

• Infection control is crucial during all phases of new hospital development, from planning to clinical service.
• Many hospitals face persistent issues post-occupancy that could be mitigated by earlier infection control integration.
• Recognizing the importance of infection control by hospital leadership and project teams is essential.

Framework:

• Establishing strong collaborative relationships between infection control teams (ICTs) and all stakeholders, including clinical user groups and contractors.
• Empowering ICTs with the necessary authority to influence project processes, potentially through official recognition by health authorities.
• Providing specialized training for ICTs in areas such as interpreting design plans and writing effective specifications.

Implementation:

• Prioritizing comprehensive documentation and meticulous record-keeping throughout the project lifecycle.
• Utilizing external or independent validation, especially during the commissioning phase, to ensure adherence to standards.
• Advocating for stricter national regulations on building design concerning infection control to allow ICTs to address site-specific challenges.

Implications:

• Enhanced infection control measures in new hospital facilities can lead to improved patient safety and reduced healthcare-associated infections.
• The findings highlight the need for systemic changes in how infection control is integrated into healthcare infrastructure projects.
• Further research is recommended to establish concrete evidence linking specific building design elements to infection prevalence.