A new cross-sector initiative has been launched by the Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) to help the NHS build infection-resilient hospitals from the ground up, tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through smarter design, construction, and maintenance.
“Antimicrobial resistance is not just a microbiological issue, it’s a design issue. Hospitals built without infection-safe principles can end up costing more to fix and manage,” said Dr Manjula Meda, Chair of the Healthcare Infection Society.
The Built Environment Infection Prevention Initiative (BEIPI) brings together architects, estates teams, infection prevention specialists, and construction professionals to ensure that infection prevention becomes a built-in feature of future healthcare estates.
BEIPI was created in response to growing evidence that the design, construction, and upkeep of hospital buildings directly affect infection risks and the spread of AMR.
According to HIS, infections caused by resistant bacteria already cost the NHS an estimated £180m every year, with many linked to avoidable design issues such as poor ventilation or unsafe drainage systems.
The launch comes as the NHS has plans for £35bn of hospital investment over the next 15 years, which presents an opportunity to embed infection prevention from the outset, rather than retrofitting solutions later.
Established following a national workshop in March, BEIPI unites key partners including Arup, Laing O’Rourke, and P+HS Architects, working alongside NHS trusts to embed infection-prevention principles in design briefs from day one.
“Tackling AMR in healthcare settings requires a combination of well-designed services, systems, and facilities that can be easily operated and maintained,” said Edith Blennerhassett, Director at Arup. “That’s why we’re supporting HIS in the creation of BEIPI, bringing all stakeholders together to solve this critical challenge for safe healthcare delivery.”