On Tuesday 12th April 2005, B. Braun were the major sponsors at a National Risk Conference entitled RISK 2005, in which Needle-Stick Injuries, for the first time held a pivotal place on the agenda in Ireland. This inaugural lecture was a major success in addressing one of the biggest occupational hazards facing the medical profession at a national level. Results from delegates surveyed identified education and a change in National Policy as being the key factors in ensuring NSI are managed more effectively in the future.

Clinical pioneers within this field, Dr. Blánaid Hayes, Consultant in Occupational Medicine, Beaumont Hospital and Dr. Mary McMahon, Consultant in Occupational Medicine, Temple St. Children’s Hospital shared their expertise in the prevalence, risk and liabilities of needle-stick injuries, and also identified tangible risk reduction strategies for Irish hospitals. The lecture/Q&A afternoon session was chaired by Mr. David Oates, Euro Region Director B. Braun and former chairman of the Safer Needles Now network in the UK

The afternoon session was designed to enable healthcare workers to achieve change in their place of work through better training, management and the introduction of safety devices. Dr. Mc Mahon commented that 75% of Needle Stick Injuries were preventable; 45% through safer systems of work and 30% through the usage of safer devices. Dr Hayes said good management was key to reducing the prevalence of NSIs and stressed that while education was vitally important, technology solutions, preferably passive are now more effective and efficient.

"We need management to really buy into safety", stated Dr. Hayes, who urged that occupational health and safety should be represented at the highest level of every hospital’s executive. Hospitals were legally obliged to provide a safer working environment, Dr. Mc Mahon added. "We do not want to make patients of our healthcare workers. Every healthcare worker should be able to work safely."

The date for the first full day National Conference on Needlestick Injuries has been set for Saturday, April 22nd 2006.

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31 May 2005 Nursing Safety Survey 2005

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