Freedom of Information request Designing safe spaces for patients at high risk of infection

To: Infection Control Teams Dear Colleagues, We are carrying out a short 10 question survey to understand how NHS Trusts are implementing the guidance from NHS Estates Technical Bulletin 2024/3: Designing safe spaces for patients at high risk of infection from nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and other waterborne pathogens. This survey is being carried out to gain insight into how the recommendations of the bulletin have informed local water safety practice and capital planning across NHS organisations; and to identify common challenges in water safety management across healthcare settings. A summary of anonymised findings will be shared with participating Trusts on request. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we seek the following information within your NHS Trust / NHS Foundation Trust: 1. Name of NHS Trust/Foundation Trust: 2. Has your organisation reviewed NHS Estates Technical Bulletin 2024/3 with the specific note on non-tuberculous mycobacteria? Yes No 3. Does your organisation treat any of the “high-risk” patient groups listed in the NHS Estates Technical Bulletin 2024/3? Tick all that apply Lung and/or heart transplant Cystic fibrosis Haematology/oncology patients with neutropenia, CAR-T cell patients Other solid organ transplant, Patients with long-term lines 4. Do you have a Water Safety Group or equivalent multidisciplinary body for any water-related issues? Yes No 5. Do you currently conduct routine environmental water testing for NTM? If yes, please state the areas tested and the frequency of testing. Yes No Areas tested (type here): Frequency (type here): 6. Does your Water Safety Plan include specific controls for NTM, separate from general Legionella/Pseudomonas measures? - If yes, please specify. Yes No Specify (Type here): 7. If NTM testing is undertaken, which laboratory/method is used, and is it UKAS-accredited to ISO 17025 for NTM testing or according to the methods suggested in the bulletin? N/A (have not tested for NTM) If testing, which laboratory/method is used? (type here): Is testing method accredited (type here): 8. If you have tested, have you detected NTM in water samples from patient care areas in the last 3 years? (Yes/No; if yes, please indicate the area(s) and summarise the control measures taken). Yes No N/A (have not tested for NTM) Specify areas (type here): Summarise control measures (type here): 9. Which control and/or remedial measures are you currently using to manage waterborne pathogens in your organisation? Tick all that apply Point-of-use filters Temperature controls Chemical controls (any, i.e. chlorine, silver-copper ionization) Pipe removal work (including new copper pipes) Descaling and cleaning of water outlets Complete removal of outlets/sink Other (please list below) Other (type here): 10. In the last 5 years, have you made any design changes in high-risk areas specifically to reduce waterborne infection risk (e.g., removal or relocation of sinks, drainage modifications, point-of-entry filtration)? (Yes/No; please provide brief examples). Yes No 11. Are you planning any major refurbishment in the next 5 years and/or is your organization part of the NHS New Hospital Programme? (Tick all that apply) Yes - planning refurbishment works Yes - part of the NHS New Hospital Programme No - neither