A water supply colonised by bacteria is driving a £10.5million project to move mental health services across Bristol.
Facing a £2million bill after legionella was detected at older buildings at Southmead Hospital in 2016, staff have fit costly micro-filters on every tap, frequently flushed them and rigorously monitored water temperatures, but it is not sustainable, according to a business case.
The issue affects all of Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP)’s wards at the hospital but is limited to its estate there, which also suffers from a £3.3million maintenance backlog and risks to patients from potential ligature points and poor sight lines that mean issues escalate before they can be addressed.
