Lanes Group is calling on the British public to take heed of the problems that poor drain health can cause, in the wake of a new national report showing that hospitals in England have experienced more than 450 sewage leaks in the last 12 months.

According to the report, compiled on the back of a freedom of information request from the Liberal Democrats, the NHS is reporting cases of sewage leaking on to critical wards, posing risks to patients and staff alike. This is coming at a time when the NHS is still recovering from the pandemic, and the national healthcare budget has been stretched thin.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals, which documented 105 incidents, said the sewage leaks are due to ageing buildings – but also due to people flushing the wrong things down toilets, which is a major cause of drain blockages and sewage leaks nationwide.

The question is: is there anything we can do about the situation? To help the NHS, it is important to reflect on the good behaviours that people can adopt when visiting healthcare facilities to keep their drains in the best possible condition, and avoid expensive problems or serious damage. In many cases, small adjustments to our habits can make a big difference.

Many common items – including wet wipes, cotton buds, face masks and sanitary products – do not break down when they are flushed, which can result in serious blockages. For this reason, these items should never be disposed of in your toilet and should always go into the bin.

Lanes Group, the company behind the Unblocktober campaign for better drainage habits, is also reminding the public that many of these problems are shared by homes across the country. As such, this report provides a warning that a lack of proper drain care can lead to significant repair costs – something that neither hospitals nor homes can easily afford right now.

Jacob Larkin, marketing coordinator at Lanes, said: “Bad drainage habits can result in serious consequences that are often completely avoidable. We want as many people as possible to learn how to care for their drains properly and prevent problems like flooding, blockages and leaks.

“If you want to make a difference, consider the simple commitments that will keep drains in as good repair as possible. Whether you are in a hospital or at home, taking care to use drains properly will help to avoid the stress and expense of responding to a drainage emergency. This will be especially important in 2023, as the cost of living crisis continues.

“By encouraging the British public to commit to maintaining better drain health, we can not only keep costs down and help the NHS, but prevent the broader environmental consequences that can arise when items are flushed incorrectly.”