Trust opens moving-and-handling training room for staff

A hospital trust has opened a dedicated training room to prevent moving-and-handling injuries among its staff.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust opened the training room to help educate staff on how to move and transfer patients and heavy loads, including medical equipment. It was opened by trust director of nursing Pauline Law. 

Costly problem

Research by charity BackCare found that back injuries sustained by NHS staff cost the health service more than £400 million a year.

A European Union directive sets out minimum health and safety requirements for manual handling where there is a risk of injury to workers. It states that employers must take appropriate measures to avoid the need for manual handling. When it is unavoidable, employers should give staff appropriate training and equipment to reduce the risk of injury.

Trust moving-and-handling quality safety matron Karen Ashcroft said: ‘Safety is our number-one priority and with national back week in October, the opening of our training room is a good opportunity to highlight the importance of moving and handling for both patient and staff safety.’