Patients and residents are more vulnerable to infection, so the standard for water safety in healthcare premises is higher. If you manage a hospital, surgery or care home, can you show that your water systems are under control?
Water Hygiene Services has worked in the healthcare sector since 2007. We carry out Legionella risk assessments, monitoring, UKAS-accredited sampling, remedial works and recommissioning for healthcare premises, to HSG274 and HTM 04-01, working alongside your Authorising Engineer and Water Safety Group.
What is HTM 04-01?
HTM 04-01, Safe water in healthcare premises, is the Department of Health guidance on the legal requirements, design, maintenance and operation of hot and cold water systems in healthcare buildings. Part B sets out the need for a Water Safety Group (WSG): a team of the people responsible for water safety on the site.
It is written for healthcare management, water safety groups, design engineers, estates managers, operations managers, contractors and the supply chain. HSG274 Part 2 sits alongside it, and the legal duty sits with the duty holder under ACoP L8.
How do we work with your Authorising Engineer and Water Safety Group?
- We work with Authorising Engineers (Water), and understand how the AE, the Water Safety Group and the contractor fit together
- We give the Water Safety Group the records it needs: risk assessments, monitoring logs, sampling results and remedial action tracking
- We report findings in plain English, with actions ranked by risk
- We work with your estates team to keep systems in use, and plan work around clinical areas
What temperatures apply in healthcare premises?
HSG274 Part 2 and HTM 04-01 give the figures we check against. Legionella grows between about 20 and 45 degrees Celsius, so the aim is to keep water outside that range.
- Hot water stored at 60 degrees or above
- Hot water at outlets at 55 degrees or above within one minute in healthcare premises
- Cold water below 20 degrees within two minutes of running
- Thermostatic mixing valves checked and serviced to protect vulnerable users from scalding while hot water stays hot enough
Who do we work with?
- NHS trusts and primary care organisations
- Acute hospitals
- GP surgeries and clinics
- Care homes and supported living
For GP surgeries, see our guidance on managing water systems.
Which services do healthcare sites need?
- Legionella risk assessment
- Monitoring and planned preventive maintenance, including temperatures, flushing and logbooks
- UKAS-accredited water sampling
- Remedial works, including dead legs, tanks and TMVs
- Tank cleaning and disinfection
- Recommissioning of water systems after closure, refurbishment or a change of use
Where we work
We are based in Leeds and cover healthcare sites across Yorkshire, the North East, the North West, the East Midlands and Humberside, roughly 100 miles from Leeds along the M62 corridor.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to work with our Authorising Engineer?
Where you have appointed an Authorising Engineer (Water), we work to their requirements and give them the information they need.
Is the legal duty the same for care homes as for hospitals?
The duty to assess and control the risk applies to both. The level of risk and the controls differ, because of the vulnerability of the people in the building. Your risk assessment sets what is needed.
Can you work around wards and clinical areas?
Yes. We agree access, timing and any isolation with your estates team before work starts.
What records do we need to keep?
The risk assessment, the written scheme, monitoring and flushing logs, temperature records, cleaning and maintenance reports and sampling results. We keep these up to date for you.
Contact us for a Free Quote
Very happy with their very high standard of work Water Hygiene Services have been carrying out legionella risk assessments for us for a couple of years now. We have been very happy with their very high standard of work, their ability to work to tight deadlines and the general professional service they provide
