NMH

NMH | 2024 171 Quality & Safety Services T he National Maternity Hospital Health and Safety Department is dedicated to ensuring the safety, health and wellbeing of all our patients, staff, visitors and contractors. This is achieved by promoting a positive and pro- active safety conscious culture to ensure a safe environment and place of work in line with best practice for all our patients, staff and visitors. Three hundred and twenty-three individuals attended twenty three Health and Safety Training sessions during the year which were favourably received by all. The induction program for staff is further complemented by the mandatory study day which is open to both clinical and non-clinical staff. This runs online regularly throughout the year and ensures all staff have an opportunity to refresh their health, safety and emergency procedures awareness. In addition, online training is also available for staff, through the NMH e-learning platform Totara and HSELand. Fire Safety Consultants provided training for thirty-seven of our fire wardens in 2024. The Hospital liaises closely with the Dublin Fire Brigade and the Emergency Services during trial evacuations. Staff were involved in the main mock evacuation conducted in July, there were over six hundred and sixty three participants including patients and staff. The emergency stair climbing wheelchair was used to simulate an urgent transfer of patient to Theatre from Triage during this evacuation. Ski sled and patient hoist awareness training is also provided during manual handling sessions. There were thirty-three Manual Handling training sessions conducted by the manual handling team in 2024 and two hundred and twenty-five staff were recorded as attending. Of these, twenty- three were scheduled and ten additional sessions were organised to facilitate individual key departments/cohorts of staff. The upgrading of the current bed stock has improved the ergonomic environment for nursing staff and is in line with the minimal manual handling policy of the Hospital. Contractor Management remains a key focus area especially in light of recent developments. Additional minor capital projects undertaken improve site facilities and patient safety in the long term. These additional construction projects require the effective implementation of contractor management controls. Managers and our contractors work together to ensure safe systems are in place and are working effectively. The Annual Accident Review was conducted and there were a number of initiatives during the year to raise staff awareness of these hazards. All staff are engaged in working proactively with Health & Safety managing these risks to ensure a safe working environment for all our patients, visitors and staff. Sincere thanks to all employees proactively working as a team to improve the safety culture within the Hospital. Thanks also to all members of the Quality, Risk, Health and Safety Committee which met on nine occasions during 2024 and thanks also to the Safety Representatives, Manual Handling Trainers, Support Services Teams, Nursing & Midwifery and clinical teams. While 2024 was a busy year, it is likely that 2025 will be more challenging given the current facilities constraints, scheduled projects and current financial environment. Martin Creagh, Health & Safety Officer. Baby Gearoid Phelan.

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