Infection control
was first developed in response to the 2003 SARS epidemic, with research and development funded by the South Korean government. Since then, clean air technology of this
kind has been installed in over 80 per cent of the hospitals and universities in South Korea. By protecting individuals against the harms of viruses, bacteria and pollutants from indoor air, the widespread installation of this technology has arguably aided countries like South Korea in containing the spread of coronavirus. This form of air filtration is currently
being distributed worldwide in an effort to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. Hospitals, GP practices and care home
providers across the UK have begun to adopt clean air technology as a vital part of their wider infection prevention and control measures. Anecdotal evidence suggests staff have increased confidence in coming in to work, and clientele appreciating the proactive approach the practices are taking towards investing in cutting-edge technology. Hamstreet Surgery, a GP surgery in Kent,
installed air sterilisation units across its waiting rooms, offices and pharmacy ahead of hosting a ‘flu vaccination clinic during the pandemic. This saw 900 people come through the surgery in just 12 hours, with the technology supporting the surgery to ensure that no patients or staff members picked up or transmitted coronavirus. Senior staff at another Kent GP surgery,
The Charing Practice, have invested in the same technology, citing that many health
and social care buildings were not built with airflow in mind. This necessitates devices that extract air and clean it in one single air pass, in order to safeguard the health of those working in and visiting these spaces. This technology has also been adopted
by care providers across the UK, including the Majesticare luxury care home group, which sees the investment as not only safeguarding residents and staff against the spread of airborne viruses, but also protecting them from air pollution in the long term. They have installed air steriliser units across residents’ rooms, indoor visiting rooms and in other places throughout the homes. Manucourt – a family-run care provider –
has also invested in this technology to add an extra dimension to its infection control procedures. By installing the technology in its secure visitors rooms, management are able to facilitate visits inside the home with the confidence that residents and their loved ones are entering an environment with clean, fresh air.
Looking ahead Clean air technology is becoming an integral aspect of the ongoing adoption of health technology within the social care sector, with an aim to not only safeguard against airborne transmission routes throughout the pandemic, but also to protect residents and staff from the harms of indoor air pollution in the long term. As care providers continue to navigate
this move, it is of utmost importance that procurement teams are able to distinguish between standard air purifiers,
46 Naeem Walji
Naeem Walji is a principal at 4th Wave Technology, a distributor of clean air technologies. Naeem has over ten years of experience in executive management, sales, marketing and fundraising across the hospitality, telecoms and technology sectors, in early stage, corporate and unicorn companies. He has been centrally involved in ventures spanning the North America, UK, Europe, Central Asia and the Far East. 4th Wave Technology’s units were first developed in collaboration with the South Korean government as an emergency response to the 2003 SARS outbreak, and are now being deployed globally.
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • April 2021
and air sterilisers that clean the air in one single air pass, in order to effectively protect those that live and work within care settings.
TCHE
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