Energy efficiency could increase hospital risks

The chance of infection in some NHS wards varies dramatically according to whether the nurses leave the windows open. A University of Leeds-led team studied airflow in a “Nightingale” ward—the classic NHS ward that traditionally accommodated two rows of up to 30 beds—using tracer gases to simulate how airborne infections spread. They found ventilation in the ward was generally good when windows were left open, keeping the danger of airborne infection low. But risks increased fourfold when the windows were closed. Lead investigator Dr Cath Noakes, from the University of Leeds’ School of Civil Engineering, said: “These wards are still in operation and, although they have often been subdivided into smaller areas with 6-8 beds, their ventilation and structure is still fundamentally the same. “We found that when you operate them properly, with natural ventilation from the windows, they perform as the Department of Health would like them to. But we also asked what happens in the winter if the windows are closed? “There is a big push on energy in buildings and it worries many of us who work on indoor air quality.