Research project in GP surgeries

Our project team have conducted monitoring of 11 GP surgeries and installed approximately 70 CO2 and IAQ sensors in GP surgeries in York and Hull, collaborating with healthcare professionals and the University of Leeds. Forty CO2 decay experiments were facilitated to measure room air changes per hour to enhance ventilation in GP surgeries and contribute to infection control measures. The project results will crucially inform immediate policy action. I was at the forefront of this project, overseeing the production of reports and delivering presentations to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The reports encompass ventilation assessments, measurements, evaluations of indoor environmental conditions, and assessments of airborne transmission risks at GP surgeries. These were all geared toward informing policy for immediate action to enhance ventilation. Furthermore, I established a collaboration with NHS England and UKHSA to share the results from field studies conducted in GP surgeries to facilitate immediate action to improve ventilation in these settings. This project provides valuable experience in effectively reporting field study results to inform government decisions and policy implementations. I am currently taking a leadership role alongside other authors to develop two manuscripts for publication, one for the Journal of Building and Environment and one for BMC Medicine.