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Accident prevention in NHS
 
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TRAINING COURSE TO CURB ONE MILLION ACCIDENTS IN NHS EVERY YEAR  

IOSH (The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) today launches a training course for all healthcare staff to reduce the one million accidents and 7000 MRSA infections that occur in the NHS every year.

Despite Government targets to reduce accidents, recent figures have shown that two thirds of NHS trusts (64%) experienced a rise in accidents. Training for an increased awareness of risk in healthcare has never been more essential.

Reports from the National Audit Office and others 1 have shown:  

  1. Over 2700 accidents in the NHS every day (one million every year)
  2. Injury at work costs the NHS at least £173 million annually.
  3. There are a reported 100,000 needle stick and sharps injuries every year 2
  4. MRSA infections top 7000 every year in the NHS including 800 2 deaths
  5. 1 in 4 nurses has taken time off work for back injury sustained at work
  6. Slipping and tripping accidents account for 48% of major injuries
  7. Stress-related illness accounts for up to 40% of all NHS sickness absence.

IOSH is Europe ’s largest professional health and safety organisation, and represents over 27,000 members in over 52 countries. The one-day training course, entitled Healthcare: working safely , is tailored to the needs of healthcare professionals clinical, non-clinical and support staff. It is aimed at reducing accidents and infection and increasing staff awareness of workplace hazards.

The course is co-authored by IOSH and Dr Robert LI. Davies, Wales College of Medicine and Biosciences, Cardiff University . Dr Davies said:

“The figures show over 2700 accidents every day in the NHS. This is very worrying. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff in this country are extremely dedicated and hardworking. The pressures of work can sometimes mean that corners are cut and things go wrong”.

 “This new course will help clinical and non-clinical staff to implement simple and practical measures to better safeguard themselves and patients. Training for an increased awareness of risk in healthcare has never been more essential”.

 

Chris Beasley, Chief Nursing officer said:  

“This is great news for NHS staff. Through heightened awareness of the risks at work and how they can be avoided, NHS and all healthcare staff can themselves reduce the likelihood that they will be injured at work. A commitment to well managed health and safety training is the only way Government targets will be met”.

The course, Healthcare: working safely , covers: 

  1. Infection prevention and control
  2. Handling hazardous substances
  3. Violence and aggression in the workplace
  4. Workplace stress
  5. Manual handling
  6. Legal duties and responsibilities in preventing and reporting accidents
  7. The threat of fire
  8. Knowledge of risk assessment
  9. The role of each individual in creating a safer work environment for staff and patients

The course complies with the Health and Safety Executive requirements. It is designed for NHS staff as well as those working in the independent healthcare sector.  

 

NOTES

  1. IOSH (The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) is Europe ’s leading body for health and safety professionals, representing 27,000 members in over 52 countries
  2. IOSH is a registered charity, established in 1945 and incorporated by Royal Charter in 2003
  3. IOSH provides a centre of excellence for professional standards and works hard to maintain strong links with all health and safety stakeholders initiating debate and influencing policy
  4. Christine Beasley is the Chief Nursing Officer, CNO at the Department of Health.
  5. Dr Robert Ll. Davies MBE FIOSH RSP is a Health and Safety Consultant at Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and an honorary senior lecturer at the Wales College of Medicine and Biosciences, Cardiff University .  
  6. A Safer Place to Work . Improving the management of health and safety risks to staff in NHS trusts. Published April 31 st 2003.
  7. Working Well? Published in 2001 by the Royal College of Nursing Publication code: 001 572 RCN.
  8. Working Together, Securing a Quality  Workforce for the NHS published in 1999
  9. ICM Research conducted for the NHS Confederation in September 2004 showed that only 16% of NHS employees were actually support staff.
  10. A list of reports on needle stick injuries can be found at
    http://www.unison.org.uk/needlesticks/index.asp
  11. The government has a target of reducing accidents involving NHS by 20% but in 2003 the number increased by 24% to 135,000.  The record for different NHS Trusts is mixed, whilst 23% met the 20% govt. target, 64% reported an increase in accidents.  It is estimated that only 40% of accidents are reported.  Source National Audit Office.
  12. Further information about IOSH can be viewed at www.iosh.co.uk

1 A Safer Place to Work . Improving the management of health and safety risks to staff in NHS trusts. Published April 31st 2003

Working Well? Published in 2001 by the
 Royal College of Nursing. Publication code: 001 572 

Working Together, Securing a Quality Workforce for the NHS published in 1999

2 National Office of National Statistics

(7/3/05)

 

 

 

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