Safety recommendation
It is recommended that NHS England and NHS Improvement responds to emerging scientific evidence and shared learning when reviewing guidance for NHS trusts on the role of hospital ventilation systems in nosocomial transmission.
Response:
The learning from UK and international experience has informed development of ventilation guidance, and specifically in a review of HTM 03-01, which has included academics and devolved nations NHS staff with expertise in building ventilation and healthcare ventilation.
We note that in the most recent WHO guidance a minimum standard of 12 ACH where AGPs are performed has been proposed; and whilst the minimum in the new HTM 03-01 is 10 ACH, we recognise that the WHO guidance is reflective of the international practice of recirculatory air, which is not advised in the English guidance (in effect the recirculatory element, with 12 ACH gives a lower dilution rate that the English HTM standard of 10 ACH) .
In addition to the new HTM 03-01, In collaboration with IPC, leading academics and a sub group of SAGE EMG, we have proposed a range of air change rates to achieve appropriate dilution, alongside minimum fallow periods where AGPs are performed, alongside IPC and cleaning advice.
Response received on 23 March 2021.