Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) issue guidance on and (b) undertake modifications to hospitals in respect of reducing the risk of infection through (i) air flow and (ii) heating systems in those buildings.

The current National Health Service infection prevention control principles are applicable to all healthcare staff in all healthcare settings. The guidance is available the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control

The guidance sets out safe systems of working including administrative, environmental and engineering controls as well as interventions to reduce the risk of transmission of infection. This includes cleaning and decontamination of the environment and shared equipment, social/physical distancing, hand hygiene personal protective equipment and ventilation.