Direct Measurement of Noise Levels in a Large Hospital

Previous studies on the question of noise in hospitals have been based on the replies of patients to questionnaires. This paper records what is to our knowledge the first attempt to determine sound levels in a hospital by direct measurement; the work was carried out in the Bristol Royal Infirmary. Some justification is needed for the use of objective sound measurement. Admittedly the intensity of a noise is not always directly related to its annoyance value, nevertheless its measurement has great practical value, especially for purposes of comparisonThe direct measurement of low-intensity sound helps little?for example even a small sound can be very disturbing at dead of night?but direct measurement of high-intensity sound is vital for a full assessment of the problem. The questionnaires already undertaken fail to indicate how high many of the hospital noise levels are. Contrary to the idea expressed by some that direct measurement would only reveal unavoidable traffic noises, we have found that the loudest noises in the Royal Infirmary are in fact produced within the hospital; and we have found it possible to isolate the various noises and to measure and compare their intensities.