Medical science is constantly evolving, which is great for us. We can look forward to new technologies that will give us longer, healthier lives.

But there’s also a low-tech element to any hospital, GP surgery or clinic that is equally important for our health – their drains, sewers and gutters.

They may not be noticed when they work, but when they go wrong, they can cause injury, sickness and costs that hospital administrators can ill afford.

Hospital hazards

There have been numerous media reports in recent years about problems in hospitals across England, caused by blocked or damaged drains and sewers:

  • Patients slipping on sewage
  • Staff being made ill from bad toilet smells
  • Water leaks in A&E departments, maternity units and wards
  • Ceilings collapsing due to rainwater damage

When things go wrong

Many hospitals in this country are ageing but maintenance and repair budgets are under pressure and managers have to make their budgets go further.

In addition, in common with any other public building, amenities are put under pressure from steadily increasing demand. Hospitals get particularly busy over the winter period – just when drains and sewers are being put under more strain due to wetter weather.

Leaking gutters can damage walls, window frames and roofs, leading to problems such as internal damp and mould, which can be hazardous to the health of patients and staff.

And despite warnings, patients and visitors will still flush the wrong things down toilets and sinks, which coagulate. This then causes blockages in drains and sewers with wastewater backing up, adversely affecting patient care, inflicting expensive damage and generating terrible publicity.

Public safety and disease prevention are paramount in an environment where inhabitants are particularly vulnerable. And efficiently working drains and sewers are crucial to smooth-running and uninterrupted operations.

Managers just can’t afford to close down a part of a hospital for any length of time, potentially resulting in cancelled operations and appointments or patients having to be moved, because of a problem with drains.

Prevention is cheaper than cure

On the basis that’s it’s easier and cheaper to prevent a problem in the first place than to have to clear it up, setting up a regular maintenance programme of routine inspections and maintenance can save money and avoid interruptions to operations in the long run, despite the associated cost.

Setting up an effective maintenance programme

A professional and effective maintenance partner can deploy the latest remote CCTV technology to inspect infrastructure for problems, use ground-based tools to clear gutters of leaves, and jet blast drains of obstructions, with minimal disruption or risk.

In an emergency situation, they can also pump out and remove blocked water with Lorry mounted combination units. They should also be trained to carry out emergency repairs in challenging environments, including enclosed or public spaces.

Drain and Sewer Services

Over the past 50 years, Drain and Sewer Services has built up a reputation for commitment and reliability, maintaining the drains, sewers and gutters of largescale public facilities throughout the year through regular contracts and service programmes. This way, we get to understand the unique issues and needs of each client while saving them unexpected repair bills, risk of injury or disruption to services.

Our in-house technical teams operate our own fleet of specialist vehicles and equipment, allowing us to guarantee service when clients need it, all carried out to the highest health and public safety standards and workmanship.

For hospital establishments responsible for septic tanks or sewage treatment plants, we also offer a routine maintenance, emptying and cleaning service.

In addition, we are experienced at supporting commercial-scale catering facilities to function hygeinically, cleaning and maintaining grease-traps and drains for high-volume kitchen use.

We are also qualified to carry out pipe repairs and undertake groundworks, including hardstanding, roads and walkways. We are NSWRA accredited to work safely on public roads.

From individual homeowners to managers of hospital trusts, we offer peace of mind because our customers that our one-stop, 24/7 service will keep their operation running safely.

If you are looking for a drain and sewer maintenance partner, talk to one of our team at Drain and Sewers today on  01252 312738 or email us at info@drainandsewer.co.uk.