HOSPITAL bosses are looking into ways to reduce health and safety incidents at its sites after increasing number of reports in the last 12 months.

During a board meeting on Thursday, East Suffolk and North Essex Trust (ESNEFT), who run Ipswich and Colchester Hospital looked into the annual health and safety report.

Nick Sammons, director of estates and facilities, introduced the reports and said that increased training could help the trust perform better. 

He said the most concerning part was the report stating that the trust 'requires improvement' relating to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) - which is an umbrella term that could mean anything from dust to bacteria. 

Nick Sammons presented the report to the board.Nick Sammons presented the report to the board. (Image: ESNEFT)

"We are going to be having a particular group focus on that (COSHH) which will run trust wide and we will focus on ensuring the storage and utilisation of those substances is corrected," Mr Sammons added. 

He added that safety is the top priority of the trust, and pointed to the report mentioning ESNEFT's improved attendance during training and a better understanding of health and safety amongst staff. 

The report rated the trust as 'adequate' in management and first aid and it was 'good' for its method of reporting incidents, management of sharps, personal protective equipment and information.

The report raised issues at the number of incidents caused by medical sharps.The report raised issues with the number of incidents caused by medical sharps. (Image: Newsquest)

However, Mr Sammons noted that out of the total 1,399 health and safety incident reports made between April 1 last year to March 31 this year 177 of these related to sharps - which are objects like needles that can cut or puncture the skin. 

This is the second-highest number of reports in the period after violence and aggression of which over 600 incidents were recorded in a 12 month period.

Additionally, the highest number of the 47 reports made to the Health and Safety Executive related to sharp incidents.

There were eight reports in total, five about injuries, two about releases of biological agents and one about exposure to a hazardous substance.

Dr Hussein Khatib said the Quality and Patient Safety Committee also had concerns over the number of sharp incidents. Dr Hussein Khatib said the Quality and Patient Safety Committee also had concerns over the number of sharp incidents. (Image: ESNEFT)

Chair of the quality and patient safety committee, Dr Hussein Khatib, added that his committee have raised concerns about these sharp reports and is looking into what can be done to reduce these incidents. 

Mr Sammons said: "The annual report document shows a notable high-rising bar, which is incidents related to sharps, which cannot be ignored. 

"There is a need to have a greater level of focus to ensure understanding of sharps and the promotion of any preventative and awareness of those instances."

He added that this could be done through an increased level of training and compliance.