Dear Sir or Madam, I would be grateful if you could provide me with
the following information concerning the air conditioning systems
at the hospitals within your Trust:-

a) How often are the cooling coils checked for microbial activity?

b) Which types of rooms (wards, theatres, laboratories etc.) have
their air passed through HEPA filters and how often are these HEPA
filters checked for microbial/mould/biofilm growths?

Yours faithfully,

Mike Jozefiak

Dear Mike

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request for information we received on 21st August 2008 and to confirm that your request will be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Trust will endeavour to provide this within the 20 working-day deadline and I will of course keep you informed should this not prove possible for any reason.

Many Thanks

David Hewer
Head of Risk Management & Governance
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 01493 453684
[James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust request email]

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Dear Mike

Further to your request for information dated 21st August 2008, please see attached the information you require.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You are free to use it for your own purposes, including any noncommercial research you are doing and for the purposes of news reporting. Any other reuse, for example commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder. Most documents supplied by James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will have been produced by government officials and will be Crown Copyright. You can find details on the arrangements for re-using Crown Copyright on HMSOnline at:

http://www.hmso.gov.uk/copyright/licence...

Information you receive which is not subject to Crown Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. You must ensure that you gain their permission before reproducing any third party (non Crown Copyright) information.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request an review of our decision, you should write to. Chief Executive, James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 6LA.

If you are not content with the outcome your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Many Thanks

David Hewer
Head of Risk Management & Governance
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 01493 453684
[James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust request email]<mailto:[James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust request email]>

show quoted sections

Dear David,

Thank you for the attached pdf file, however some of the
information seems contradictory i.e. "HEPA filters are replaced
annually and are not routinely tested for microbial/mould/biofilm
growths as this is not a specific requirement of HTM03-01. However,
microbial/mould/biofilm tests may be undertaken if formal visual
inspections identify a non-conformity."

If filters are only checked annually and not routinely tested in
between, how can they also be given a "formal" visual inspection at
times other than their annual check, if no such inspection
arrangement exists? To my mind, a formal inspection is something
which is planned into a maintenance schedule. Have I missed
something here?

Yours sincerely,

Mike Jozefiak

Dear Mike

Further to your email dated 17th September 2008, please see below for the additonal information you requested.

The Trust undertakes a 16 week planned preventative maintenance programme for each of the Air Handling Units. If anything abnormal is identified during the formal visual inspection such as water ponding in the AHU; leaking heater or chiller batteries; mould growth; abnormal discoloration of water in the traps (see table 3), etc. then comprehensive microbiological tests will be undertaken.
Table 3 Colour of water in glass trap
Colour of water

Probable cause and comment

Normal

Satisfactory.

Green

Copper corrosion of pipework, possible leak in battery tubing.

White

Aluminium corrosion of battery fins.

Black

General dirt Filter faulty allowing air bypass System is overdue for a thorough clean.
Urgent action required

Brown/red

Iron corrosion (rust) within the duct May indicate a specific Legionella hazard.
Immediate action required

Bubbly/slimy

Microbiological activity within the duct May indicate a specific Legionella hazard.
Immediate action required

The filters are replaced in accordance with the manufacturer's service instructions. The actual date for filter replacement is adjusted to fit in with the 16 week planned maintenance programme (i.e. a manufacturer recommends 52 week filter replacement so we may choose to replace the filter at a 48 week interval).
Full details regarding inspection and testing are available in Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 Specialised Ventilation for Healthcare Premises Part B: Operational Management and Performance Verification.
Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 supersedes all previous versions of Health Technical Memorandum 2025 - 'Ventilation in healthcare premises'.
The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You are free to use it for your own purposes, including any noncommercial research you are doing and for the purposes of news reporting. Any other reuse, for example commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder. Most documents supplied by James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will have been produced by government officials and will be Crown Copyright. You can find details on the arrangements for re-using Crown Copyright on HMSOnline at:
<http://www.hmso.gov.uk/copyright/licence...>http://www.hmso.gov.uk/copyright/licence...
Information you receive which is not subject to Crown Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. You must ensure that you gain their permission before reproducing any third party (non Crown Copyright) information.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request an review of our decision, you should write to. Chief Executive, James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 6LA.
If you are not content with the outcome your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Many Thanks
David Hewer
Head of Risk Management & Governance
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 01493 453684
[James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust request email]<BLOCKED::mailto:[James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust request email]>

show quoted sections

Dear David,

Many thanks for your detailed reply. I am reassured by your 16 week
inspection maintenance schedule, and that all the relevant hazards
are being addressed.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Jozefiak