The Pulse September / October 2009 - NHS Lanarkshire

thePulse
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 TOP HEALTH ISSUES
15
Media Watch
The Pulse takes a look at
NHS Lanarkshire in the headlines…
REDUCING RISKS
YOUR health and safety is
a key priority for NHS
Lanarkshire – make sure it is
a priority for you too.
NHS Lanarkshire is looking
to build on existing health and
safety initiatives to further
improve our practices.
To do so, it is vital all staff
ensure they are aware of the
relevant policies and that they
occupational health, said:
“Health and safety within
NHS Lanarkshire has been
improved over the last few
years and we wish this trend
to continue.
“The key to ensuring the
health and safety of everyone
within NHS Lanarkshire is to
make sure staff know how to
minimise their own and
policies, should also be easily
available.”
Various health and safety
policies are on FirstPort.
These include policies on
moving and handling,
Prevention and Management
of Violence and Aggression
(PaMoVA), employee bloodborne
virus infection, stress at
work and working alone.
take advantage of the health patients’ risks.”
and safety training opportunities
“Details on how to access To assess these policies, go to
available.
Dr Ewan Macdonald, NHS
Lanarkshire’s director of
relevant training, and information
on the health board’s
various health and safety
the quick links section of
FirstPort and choose Ratified
NHSL HR Policies.
How to stay safe
Violence and aggression
Violence and aggression
towards any healthcare staff is
unacceptable.
NHS Lanarkshire has a
Prevention and Management of
Violence and Aggression
(PaMoVA) Policy to keep all
staff as safe as possible.
Under the policy, managers
are required to carry out risk
assessments in all work areas
to identify any risks to staff.
Staff are responsible for
reporting all incidents,
including near misses, to
their line manager.
Training in the prevention and
management of violence and
aggression is also available.
Visit the PAMOVA page of
FirstPort, within the
Corporate Services section.
Fire safety
Fire safety is the responsibility
of everyone within NHS
Lanarkshire.
Every premise must have a
Fire Risk Assessment carried
out and any hazards identified.
Measures must then be
taken to remove or minimise
the risks identified.
All employees should be
given relevant information of
these risks and sufficient
instruction and training on
how to ensure their own safety
and the safety of others in
the building.
NHS Lanarkshire’s Fire Policy
is available on First Port, under
Staff Information/
Miscellaneous Items.
For more information on fire
safety and training, visit the
Fire Safety section within the
SALUS page on FirstPort or call
01236 438179.
Needlesticks/accidental
exposure to blood/body fluids
Anyone accidentally exposed to
blood or body fluids, including
needlestick, should follow the
guidelines in Section G of the
Control of Infection manual.
First Aid should be carried out
and appropriate action taken.
When using sharps, never
leave them lying around; walk
about with unguarded sharps;
or keep syringes with needles
attached in your pocket.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY: our health
and safety record is improving
Always request assistance
with uncooperative patients;
and take a sharps’ container
to the place you use the
sharp and dispose of sharps
immediately after use into
the approved container.
The guidelines are available
at the bottom of the
Healthcare Associated Infections’
page on FirstPort, which can be
found under the links section.
Control books
The Control Book is the system
used within NHS Lanarkshire to
control health and safety.
The book is maintained by all
relevant line managers and
should provide information on
the risks and control measures
associated with work activities.
All staff should make
themselves aware of the
information contained in
the Control Book as soon
as possible.
You have a responsibility
to ensure you take reasonable
care of yourself and others
who may be affected by
your actions.Currently, one
third of books are audited
annually but it is proposed
that all books will be audited
each year.
Pharmacy in award win
for speedy service
New health
centre is in
great shape
e
Airdrie and Coatbridge
Advertiser
BBC Radio Scotland was just one
of the many media outlets
that highlighted NHS Lanarkshire’s
innovative bowel screening campaign,
launched in August.
The health board signed up members
of the public to become volunteer
champions who will visit local
community groups and explain why
taking the test is so important.
The national radio station broadcast
interviews from the launch event, held at
a Hamilton Bowling Club.
The Evening Times and East Kilbride
News were among the newspapers also
reporting the campaign.
e
TWO new policies were launched to
improve the public’s experience
when contacting NHS Lanarkshire.
The Lanarkshire Extra, Wishaw Press,
East Kilbride News and Airdrie and
Coatbridge Advertiser were among the
newspapers that reported the
introduction of the health board’s
Customer Care Policy and Standards, and
a Guide to Written Communications.
SHARE YOUR STORIES
Evening Times
Cancer
support
group
set up
e
Wishaw Press
NHS Lanarkshire launched a
new support group for people
with lung cancer.
The Evening Times, Wishaw Press,
Hamilton Advertiser, Lanarkshire World
and the other local newspapers
celebrated this new initiative.
e
The Evening Times, Wishaw
Press and The Extra reported
that Wishaw General’s pharmacy
dispensary won a national award
after slashing the time it takes to
issue prescriptions.
e
The progress of Coatbridge’s new
health and community centre was
celebrated on the pages of the Airdrie
and Coatbridge Advertiser.
e
The Wishaw Press reported on NHS
Lanarkshire’s Wishaw locality’s
new anti-smoking initiative.
All parents and guardians of primary
school pupils will be asked to sign a
pledge that they will not smoke around
their kids.
q Has a patient or visitor gone out of their way to praise you?
q Is there a new service in your department you are proud of?
Contact the communications department on 01698 245069/245077 and help us
reflect the good news stories that happen within NHS Lanarkshire every day.