Legionella eliminated with no ‘side-effects’

The system, from Danish company, DCW, has reportedly proven highly effective in keeping the water system at the test site, the hospital’s North Wing, Legionella-free, impressing both estates and facilities/engineering personnel, and an independent consultant, with both its efficacy and lack of “side-effects”.

Legionella control relies on a series of measures that are well established in HSE guidance L8 and NHS HTM-04. Risk assessments of our sites and buildings direct the level of measures and corrective actions that we are required to take, but can you be sure that you are doing enough? There are many companies who will say “no”, and push products and scaremonger. It is well established that Legionella is a naturally-occurring bacteria, and if you test you will undoubtedly find some level of contamination at some point; the big risk is the potential fall-out if a patient, visitor, or member of staff, becomes infected. There are many highly publicised failures; hence good independent advice is vital. At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust we tendered for a company to provide boiler water treatment and professional water hygiene support. Alan Edwards and Partners (see also panel page 43) was selected in 2008, and, since that time, has completed risk assessments across the Trust, and arranged independent testing of water samples. It was pleasing to note that our control measures and monitoring regime have had a positive effect, with most areas being rated as “Low Risk”, albeit with a few corrective actions following alteration works.

One key area of concern