Four in ten hospital patients are regularly woken up at night due to 'unsafe' levels of noise on wards, research suggests

  • Researchers found that noise pollution was rife even on intensive care wards 
  • Found that the noise levels regularly hit a staggering 100 decibels on average  
  • Noise can be caused by bleeping machines, phones or chat of staff and visitors

Forty per cent of hospital patients are regularly woken at night by noise on wards which can be three times safe sound levels, a study found.

Researchers said noise pollution was rife even on intensive care wards where patients endure the equivalent of loud music played through headphones.

They stressed the problem is a serious health risk, affecting patients’ ability to rest, heal and recover. 

A study has found that forty per cent of hospital patients are regularly woken at night by noise on wards, with researchers saying sound levels often hit 100 decibels. (Stock image)

A study has found that forty per cent of hospital patients are regularly woken at night by noise on wards, with researchers saying sound levels often hit 100 decibels. (Stock image)

The World Health Organisation recommends that ward noise levels should be no louder than 30 decibels on average. But researchers said they regularly hit 100 decibels.

They added that four in ten patients are bothered by noise at night, which has been linked to increased stress and pain sensitivity – and poor mental health.

Noise can be caused by bleeping machines, phones or the chat of staff and visitors. 

Dr Andreas Xyrichis, of King’s College London, said: ‘Hospital noise has disruptive consequences for sleep.’

The World Health Organisation recommends that ward noise levels should be no louder than 30 decibels on average but researchers found hospitals were exceeding the limit. (Stock image)

The World Health Organisation recommends that ward noise levels should be no louder than 30 decibels on average but researchers found hospitals were exceeding the limit. (Stock image)