Built Environments
Introduction
The provision of a safe environment for those receiving healthcare is essential and plays an important role in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HCAI’s).
The built environment in healthcare covers the construction and adaptation of healthcare buildings, as well as the design and provision of healthcare services in all clinical areas. The infection prevention and control (IPC) team must be included throughout these processes.
This section of the IPC Manual will highlight several documents that should be considered for IPC in the Built Environment.
- NHS Estates: Designing safe spaces for patients at high risk of infection from nontuberculous mycobacteria and other waterborne pathogens. NHS Estates Technical Bulletin (NETB) No.2024/3. August 2024.
- In-patient care Health Building Note 04-01: Adult in-patient facilities. London: Dept. of Health, 2013.
- Health Building Note 00-01 General design guidance for healthcare buildings. London: Dept. of Health, 2014
- Health Building Note 00-09 – Infection control in the built environment. Leeds:DH, Estates & facilities, 2013.
- Health Building Note 00-08 Part A: Strategic framework for the efficient management of healthcare estates and facilities. 2014.
- Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 Specialised ventilation for healthcare premises Part A: The concept, design, specification, installation, and acceptance testing of healthcare ventilation systems. London: NHS England and NHS Improvement, 2021.
- Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 Specialised ventilation for healthcare premises Part B: The management, operation, maintenance, and routine testing of existing healthcare ventilation systems. London: NHS England and NHS Improvement,2021.
- Health Technical Memorandum 04-01: Safe Water in healthcare premises Part C: Pseudomonas aeruginosa – advice for augmented care units. Dept. of Health, 2014.
- Water Systems Health Technical Memorandum 04-01: Addendum – Pseudomonas aeruginosa – advice for augmented care units. Dept of Health, 2013.
- Health Technical Memorandum 04-01: Safe Water in healthcare premises. Part C: Pseudomonas aeruginosa – advice for augmented care units. Dept of Health, 2016.
- FGI. Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals. Dallas: Facility Guidelines Institute, 2022.
- FGI. Guidelines for Design and Construction of Outpatient Facilities. Dallas: Facility Guidelines Institute, 2022.
- FGI. Guidelines for Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities. Dallas: Facility Guidelines Institute, 2022.
- Roadmap to improve and ensure good indoor ventilation in the context of COVID-19. World Health Organization, 2021.
- Legionnaires’ disease: HSG274.Part 1: The control of legionella bacteria in evaporative cooling systems. Health and Safety Executive, 2024.
- Legionnaires’ disease: HSG274.Part 2: The control of legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems. Health and Safety Executive, 2024.
- Legionnaires’ disease: HSG274.Technical Guidance Part 3: The control of legionella bacteria in other risk systems. Health and Safety Executive, 2024.