Recommendation 29

A significant obstacle to preventing infections is also the poor condition of the NHS estate.73 Dr Partridge told us that in many hospitals patients are close together and share toilets in facilities that are difficult to clean, and that this increases the risk of infections spreading. He said that in his experience there were lower rates of transmission in newer wards.74 When we asked NHS England, it agreed that much of the estate was not fit for purpose in terms of infection prevention and control. It said that there has been insufficient investment in the NHS estate. It is working to ensure that infection prevention and control measures are at the heart of the standardised designs being developed for new hospitals, including providing single rooms on wards. Where possible, it also intends to incorporate these improvements when carrying out backlog maintenance.75 Dr Partridge explained how UKHSA’s modular ward at Porton Down will carry out research which may help to guide the refurbishment of hospitals as well as new builds.76