ANNUAL REVIEW master Final3a - St Vincent's University Hospital

St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group Limited - Annual Review 2007
Allied Health Professionals - Occupational Health (OH) Department
Departmental Statistics
Three thousand nine hundred and fifty appointments were issued to staff in 2007.
This represents an increase of 800 appointments on 2006
Needlestick injury prevention
An ongoing educational campaign has continued into 2007 to encourage all staff
to avoid and report inoculation injuries as early as possible.
A number of “Be Sharp Be Safe” workshops were held and a total of 175 staff
members attended. Specific sessions on the prevention and management of
inoculation injuries were also provided for approximately 156 nursing staff as part
of the cannulation and venepuncture study day. Informal sessions took place in
the Emergency Department on the ‘Management of Blood Borne Virus exposure’;
40 staff members attended. 62 medical staff attended education sessions. A
special programme was given to general operatives as part of a safety initiative.
Medical and psychological assistance was
provided to the 103 staff members who
sustained inoculation injuries in 2007. An
additional 12 staff members sustained splash
injuries.
The prompt reporting of needlestick injuries
was emphasised. This facilitated the OHD in
monitoring and controlling associated risks.
The incidence of such injuries has fallen steadily in recent years – however with
the increase of acute procedures and the opening of the new acute facility within
the hospital there has been a slight increase in the numbers reported this year.
150
100
50
0
104
83
24 18
Needlestick and splash injuries
sustained by staff 2002-2007
85
28
24 16 12
2003 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
70
85
Series 1
Series 2
103
‘Working Backs Programme’ (WBP) for staff
WBP began in 2004. Staff who sustain a back injury are assessed by the OHD
and followed up by a physiotherapist and/or orthopaedic referral if necessary.
178 staff attended the OHD for this service in 2007.
Information packs are provided on the intranet for managers and clinicians on the
evidence-based management of Lower Back Pain (LBP). Information stands
detailing the WBP was provided during the 2007 European Safety Week.
Influenza vaccination programme
Influenza vaccinations were provided to 543 staff in 2007.
Infection Control activities
Contact tracing procedures were carried out on the conditions listed on the next
page: A total of 676 staff were contact traced.
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