Rapid response protects hospital

Once the bacteria had been confirmed as present, the hospital took preventative measures to protect patients, staff and visitors. It closed down access to some sinks, basins, showers and toilets and triggered its contingency plans to provide portable handwashing facilities.

Loraine Priest, lead nurse infection prevention and control, said: "We’ve refreshed infection prevention measures with the entire hospital team and provided equipment so they can remain vigilant in their handwashing habits."

Penn’s infection prevention and control team decided to install TEAL Patents’ portable hand wash units (Hygienius and Stop n’Wash) because they work without access to mains water or drainage and deliver NHS-compliant routines. As such, there has been no confirmed case of legionnaires’ due to the early identification of the legionella risk and the hospital’s rapid response.

"Identifying legionella in a scheduled test has also proved our contingency plans work. TEAL portable handwash units were in those plans and played a key role in keeping the hospital open,” said Loraine. "TEAL promised 24-hour delivery but the TEAL Task Force delivered and installed on the same day. It’s reassuring to know you can prepare for the unexpected and those preparations pay off in real life scenarios."