Control of waterborne pathogens: an example of gaps that have arisen since the inception of Health New Zealand
Tracks
Tāwhirimātea 2
| Thursday, August 27, 2026 |
| 1:55 PM - 2:15 PM |
| Tāwhirimātea 2 |
Overview
Sandi Gamon
Speaker
Mrs Sandi Gamon
Infection Prevention Team Lead
Waitemata
Control of water‑borne pathogens: an example of gaps that have arisen since the inception of Health New Zealand
Abstract
Rationale / Background
Water safety within healthcare facilities is a core component of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programmes across Aotearoa New Zealand, spanning both public and private providers. Proactive risk management is required, particularly in clinical environments where supply of a safe potable water system is central to providing a safe Healthcare environment for our patients and staff. Recent health system reforms have altered governance and accountability structures, with unintended consequences for water safety oversight.
Context and Observations
At the micro (service delivery) level, governance changes following the establishment of Health New Zealand in 2020 have resulted in the management of reticulated water systems becoming reactive and sporadic rather than systematic. Within Health New Zealand, issues with risk mitigations concerning Water Safety currently prompt informal responses from local IPC, Occupational Health, and facilities teams. However, responsibilities are not clearly defined, actions are inconsistently documented, and there is no centralised record of incidents. This has resulted in the absence of accessible incident histories, limited capacity for trend analysis, and reduced ability to proactively identify risk patterns or ensure timely follow up of remedial actions.
Findings
At a meso (organisational governance) level, fragmentation has further disconnected facilities management decision making from clinical governance structures, including Hospital and Specialist Services. This has created unclear accountability for escalation of incidents and for providing long term assurance of compliance with national guidance, including the New Zealand Legionella Guidelines (2025).
Conclusions and Implications
Governance of Water Safety both in existing and newly commissioned buildings creates risk to the provision of a safe potable water supply in our Health Facilities. This presentation will discuss the issues encountered and propose a model to address critical gaps in water safety oversight, accountability, and assurance within the restructured health system
Water safety within healthcare facilities is a core component of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programmes across Aotearoa New Zealand, spanning both public and private providers. Proactive risk management is required, particularly in clinical environments where supply of a safe potable water system is central to providing a safe Healthcare environment for our patients and staff. Recent health system reforms have altered governance and accountability structures, with unintended consequences for water safety oversight.
Context and Observations
At the micro (service delivery) level, governance changes following the establishment of Health New Zealand in 2020 have resulted in the management of reticulated water systems becoming reactive and sporadic rather than systematic. Within Health New Zealand, issues with risk mitigations concerning Water Safety currently prompt informal responses from local IPC, Occupational Health, and facilities teams. However, responsibilities are not clearly defined, actions are inconsistently documented, and there is no centralised record of incidents. This has resulted in the absence of accessible incident histories, limited capacity for trend analysis, and reduced ability to proactively identify risk patterns or ensure timely follow up of remedial actions.
Findings
At a meso (organisational governance) level, fragmentation has further disconnected facilities management decision making from clinical governance structures, including Hospital and Specialist Services. This has created unclear accountability for escalation of incidents and for providing long term assurance of compliance with national guidance, including the New Zealand Legionella Guidelines (2025).
Conclusions and Implications
Governance of Water Safety both in existing and newly commissioned buildings creates risk to the provision of a safe potable water supply in our Health Facilities. This presentation will discuss the issues encountered and propose a model to address critical gaps in water safety oversight, accountability, and assurance within the restructured health system
Biography
I am a Consultant Medical Microbiologist who moved to New Zealand from the UK 11 years ago. I have a passion for Infection, Prevention and Control with experience built up over the last 30 years practice in the UK and Aotearoa. I have a particular interest in the Healthcare Environment and Water Safety. This interest and picking up the Clinical Lead role for Infection Prevention at my organisation led to the development of The Waitematā District Water Safety Policy and implementation of Governance to provide assurance of the delivery of a safe water system to our patients and staff.
