Beyond Compliance: Infection Prevention, Estates Leadership and System Lessons from the Scottish Hospital Public Inquiry
Infection prevention is a critical component of healthcare estates design, operation, and governance, requiring effective collaboration between estates, facilities management, engineering, and infection prevention and control teams. This multidisciplinary session explores how organisations can move beyond regulatory compliance and embed sustained best practice across the built environment.
Drawing on system lessons from the Scottish Hospital Public Inquiry and wider healthcare inquiry findings, the session examines how infrastructure, design, and environmental management can influence infection risk, patient safety, and operational resilience. The focus is on translating inquiry learning into practical estates-led improvements rather than revisiting individual events.
Key themes include ventilation strategy and performance, water safety management, building maintenance, environmental hygiene, and the importance of integrated governance and multidisciplinary working across NHS organisations.
Delegates will gain practical insight into how stronger collaboration between estates, clinical, and infection prevention teams can enhance assurance frameworks, improve risk management, and support safer, more resilient healthcare environments through continuous improvement.
