Legionella warning issued to care homes
Commercial insurance
7th August 2009
Care homes in Britain should ensure that they are not placing residents at risk from the legionella bacteria, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned.
The caution follows a fine issued to a water treatment company in Berkshire after it was found guilty of conducting "inadequate and misleading surveys" at a series of homes in the Blaenau Gwent and Powys area.
Water companies have been reminded by the HSE to ensure that all legionella surveys on water systems are "thorough and accurate", as the disease can lead to a potentially fatal form of pneumonia.
"Elderly nursing home residents are at greater risk from the bacteria that give rise to conditions such as legionnaires disease, so it is imperative that safety critical surveys … are adequate," HSE inspector Matthew Harmar stated.
In related news, 24dash.com recently reported that Labour MP Dr Nick Palmer has called in the House of Commons for residents of UK care homes to be allowed to keep pets, as it can have a positive effect on their health and psychological wellbeing.
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