WATER
sector of ‘doing things differently’. Now that many countries have shifted to a living with COVID strategy, alongside a growing acceptance that global pandemics are a constant threat, health systems are looking for innovative solutions to alleviate pressures and future proof healthcare settings. Since the threat of water-borne diseases like Legionella and Pseudomonas are here to stay, selecting innovative water delivery solutions that keep patients, staff and the public safe will be crucial. Investment should be made in water delivery systems that promote good handwashing practice and make infection control and compliance easier to achieve. There has been a global drive to digitise healthcare estates and harness smarter ways of delivering greener, safer care. Many advanced health systems have committed to becoming net-zero by 2045, pledging to build climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26) in 2021. In the UK, the Greener NHS plan rightly identifies digital innovation and smart hospitals as key to achieving net zero and targets water and energy efficiency as key areas for improvement. This is welcome news for the 98 per cent of NHS staff who want to see more climate change action alongside delivering excellent care,11
but despite
progress, the health service continues to face calls for ‘urgent action’ to make the NHS more sustainable and put it on course to reach its 2040 net zero target.12 In 2020, the government launched the
New Hospital Programme (NHP), which aims to deliver 48 new hospitals by 2030. The programme presents an opportunity to addresses these challenges, while transforming the fabric of the NHS and build better, faster, and greener. Delays and growing concerns about the lack of progress and funding, however, mean that what was billed as the biggest hospital building programme in a generation is on shaky ground. Regardless of progress on the NHP, there are significant
opportunities to transform healthcare estates through the adoption of innovative, digital water controls.
Fully digital solutions We understand how harnessing the power of data can radically reduce the amount of water used in healthcare. Digital water delivery is at the heart of driving safety, infection control, and sustainability, and our products are designed and engineered to address these challenges. Our Intelligent Care digital tap improves
infection control and reduces water consumption. The tap does not contain solenoid operated diaphragms, which are notorious for being prone to bacterial growth. The exterior surface has been designed to minimise joins, removing areas where bacteria can build up and making cleaning easier. A patented design controls both flow and temperature through two stepper motors that adjust hot and cold water into the valve. This design removes the need for a diaphragm and therefore significantly reduces the amount of rubber required. Internal thermistors measure the water temperatures and proportion the hot and cold water to achieve the desired blended water temperature. A further level of safety is added to shut down the valve safely should the cold supply fail. Touchless operation is achieved by an infra-red sensor in the spout that starts flow and adjusts the temperature. The tap is fully digital, with networking capability for multiple taps connected to a building management system or operated via an app. All usage, duty flushing, and maintenance data is kept electronically and can be easily exported to provide evidence of compliance with national guidelines, as well as providing valuable insights to make water management more efficient.
Imaging a sustainable future As we look to the future, enhancing safety and quality in the health and care system will be fundamental for supporting the overall health of the global population. Whether minimising the spread of infections, reducing the risk of cross contamination, or supporting in the fight against climate change, we provide our partners in healthcare with the products they need to ensure safe and sustainable water delivery. By prioritising digital water delivery solutions, our stakeholders are investing in the future of healthcare delivery, delivering long-term sustainability for the health service and the overall health of the world in 2023 and beyond.
Enhancing infection control and hygiene through user-led design.
IFHE DIGEST 2023
References 1 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: Healthcare-associated infections [
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthcare- associated-infections].
Programmeable run time to support handwashing protocols.
2 WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care: First Global Patient Safety Challenge Clean Care Is Safer Care. [
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/ NBK144030/#:~:text=The%20HCAI%20 burden%20is%20greatly,from%2012%25%20 to%2080%25].
3 Guest JF, Keating T, Gould D, Wigglesworth N. Modelling the annual NHS costs and outcomes attributable to healthcare- associated infections in England. BMJ Open . 2020; 10 (1): e033367.
4 WHO. Legionellosis [
https://www.who.int/ news-room/fact-sheets/detail/legionellosis#: ~:text=The%20death%20rate%20may%20be, range%20of%205%E2%80%9310%25].
5 World Population Data Sheet 2020. United Nations [
https://interactives.prb.org/ 2020-wpds].
6 BRE. Water in the NHS – Key Facts [
https://www.bre.co.uk/page.jsp?id=2738].
7 UNICEF. Water scarcity [
https://www.unicef.org/wash/water- scarcity#:~:text=Four%20billion%20people %20%E2%80%94%20almost%20two,by %20as%20early%20as%202025].
8 BBC News. Where has a drought been declared in England, and what does it mean? [
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science- environment-62298430].
9 BBC News. Where has a drought been declared in England, and what does it mean? [
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science- environment-62298430].
10 The National Infrastructure Commission. Preparing for a drier future: England’s water infrastructure needs [
https://nic.org.uk/app/ uploads/NIC-Preparing-for-a-Drier-Future- 26-April-2018.pdf].
IFHE
11 NHS England. Delivering a net zero NHS [
https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/ a-net-zero-nhs].
12 The Independent. NHS ‘set to miss 2040 net zero target without urgent action’. [
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate- change/news/nhs-miss-net-zero-targets-
b2041287.html].
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