Moving and handling patients safely: how to avoid pain and injury

In nursing, moving and handling patients is part of the job, but with musculoskeletal injury rates high, find out how to prevent injury and improve patient safety

• Safe movement and handling of individuals and heavy objects is essential to protect nurses’ well-being, and that of patients
• Substitutes for manual lifting include hoists, sliding aids, electric profiling beds and other specialised equipment
• How small changes to practice and moving and handling champions can help support staff and build their confidence

Over the span of a decade the NHS in England has out paid more than £57million to end claims relating to injuries to staff and patients as a result of moving