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Welcome to our September 2025 Newsletter
Welcome to the September edition of the Supporting Healthcare Heroes UK (SHH-UK) newsletter. This month we focus on the critical issue of indoor air quality in healthcare settings and the vital role it plays in the safety of staff and patients. We report on our #SafeAir4All campaign, explain why CO₂ monitoring is important, and highlight how you can help us gather evidence to work towards change. We'll also let you know about upcoming support groups for healthcare workers with Long Covid and recent fundraising successes. Together, we continue to work to make the invisible risk of poor air quality visible - and to protect those who care for us.
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Thank yo
We would like to thank everyone who donated to Alison’s fundraising campaign for her 60th birthday. The fundraiser reached its target and raised an amazing £1016. This will help us to support healthcare workers with Long Covid. If you would like to donate, you can still do so by clicking here.
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If you would like to fundraise for SHH-UK, you can find more information on the different ways to do so here. Email info@shh-uk.org if you have any questions.
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Website update
Over the last few months we have been working on our website. To help people understand the aims of the charity, we now have a page about us.
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We have also done some work to make the information on our website easier to understand. This work is still ongoing. If you would like to give us any feedback, please email us at info@shh-uk.org.
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Coming soon
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Healthcare workers with Long Covid have told us that they would like to see regular online support groups. We are pleased to announce that we are in the final stages of setting up these groups and hope to start them in early October. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details.
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A six-week social media campaign focusing on our #SafeAir4All campaign will begin on 21st September. During this campaign, we would be grateful if you would retweet/share/like posts on our social media channels.
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Our #SafeAir4All campaign
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In March, we launched our #SafeAir4All campaign to make the invisible risk of indoor air quality visible. As previously mentioned, we will be running a six-week social media campaign towards the end of September. In the run-up to this campaign, we explain two of the key points. Information about the science behind the #SafeAir4All campaign is summarised in two position statements:
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A key issue in the UK is the refusal of policy makers to recognise that COVID-19 is airborne – that is, primarily spread through the air. When an infected person breathes, talks, coughs, or sneezes, they release tiny particles that can remain suspended in the air for hours, especially in poorly ventilated indoor spaces. These airborne particles can be inhaled by other people and lead to infection, even if there is no close contact. The figure below sets out 10 reasons Covid is airborne.
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Recognising that COVID-19 is transmitted through the air highlights the importance of good ventilation, air filtration, wearing masks and other measures to reduce the accumulation of virus particles indoors. In this way, COVID-19 is similar to other airborne diseases, such as measles or tuberculosis. An update to the UK's national infection prevention and control manuals is urgently needed to reflect this. (See our position paper: Urgent changes needed to UK infection prevention and control guidance).
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Why CO₂ Readings Help Estimate Indoor Air
When people breathe out, they release carbon dioxide (CO₂). In an enclosed space, CO₂ levels rise if the air is not being refreshed properly. Because CO₂ builds up in the same way that viruses and other airborne particles do, high CO₂ levels are a good signal that ventilation is poor and that the air may be less safe to breathe.
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· Low CO₂ = Fresh Air → Air is being replaced often, so virus particles are less likely to linger.
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· High CO₂ = Stale Air → Not enough fresh air is coming in, which means any viruses or pollutants in the room can build up.
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CO₂ monitors don’t measure viruses directly, but they give us a simple, reliable way to check whether ventilation is working well and if extra steps - like opening windows, using air filters, or wearing masks - might be needed.
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What CO2 value indicates good indoor air quality?
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CO₂ values are often used as an indicator of indoor air quality, especially for ventilation. The guidelines vary slightly, but the general thresholds are
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1. Below 800 ppm → Good ventilation and good indoor air quality.
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2. 800–1000 ppm → Acceptable, but ventilation could be improved.
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3. Over 1000 ppm → Poor ventilation. The air can feel stuffy and the risk of airborne virus transmission increases.
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4. Over 1500 ppm → Insufficient ventilation. Measures are required (increase airflow, open windows, use philtres).
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For healthcare and other high-risk environments, experts recommend keeping CO₂ levels constantly below 800 ppm to reduce the risk of infection.
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What can you do to help?
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Help us collect information on indoor air quality in healthcare settings
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One of the aims of our #SafeAir4All campaign is to collect data on indoor air quality in healthcare settings. To achieve this, we are asking people to take photos of their CO2 monitor readings when they visit a healthcare facility – following a set of rules - and then either upload the photo:
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· To social media with the hashtag #SafeAir4All
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Remember, we have six CO2 monitors available to borrow if you don't have one
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– more information can be found here.
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Cognitive dysfunction support group
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Our next meeting is scheduled for
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Great new
We have summarised the guidance on our resources page – click here to read it.
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A presentation by David Osborn discussing the guidance can be accessed here.
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Meet our volunteers
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Amanda
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Amanda is a qualified and experienced university lecturer, researcher and manager. She has two graduate degrees, a Masters, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Amanda held senior positions in a university Faculty of Health and Social Care, tasks included writing curriculum at Honours level plus the teaching guidance for lecturers. In recent years, Amanda took early retirement due to ill health with Long Covid. She caught COVID-19 in February 2020 and was an early advocate for those with Long Covid, spreading awareness and participating in research studies. She is keen to support others with Long Covid.
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