Measuring risk in a children’s unit: developing a local strategy for health, safety and risk management at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham

This article demonstrates the Queen’s Medical Centre approach to assessing and addressing risk in terms of Health and Safety within a busy children’s unit. This article focuses on compartmentalising a large clinical area on two floors of a busy teaching hospital which become manageable sized subunits; each has a health, safety and risk management link person who attends the regular meetings to discuss key issues. These link people, with experience and training observe clinical areas within the zone, for hazards and potential hazards (risk inspection) and then calculate the hazard on a risk score. This is then risk assessed and all risk prioritised within the Children’s Services Directorate Team. The author describes how a proactive approach to health, safety and risk management has brought about significant improvements, enhanced quality of care and improved morale and motivation of the nursing team.