Healthcare free essay sample

The Health and Safety Act started in 1974 and is a policy that insures that the conditions you work in are safe and prevents you or anyone else getting injured or hurt at work. In my current work area we uphold the Health and Safety Act by 3 simple steps:- 1. Always tidy or clean up after yourself. 2. Report any damages or anything that could be a risk to yourself or another member of staff or a patient. 3. Communication. Failing to comply with the Health and safety Act could result in a Heavy fine, Imprisonment and works worst of all a serious accident to someone. To prevent this it is everyone’s responsibility to communicate with each other, clean up after ourselves and report anything that you think that might cause an accident. That includes not just the staff but patients, contractors as well we are all part of one big Team. Manual Handling CU2667 5. 1-5.2 The Manual Handling Policy is there to teach us how to lift properly and move patients properly and how to use the right equipment without causing harm or injury to either yourself, a team member or a patient. To uphold this policy we do 3 things:- 1. You always access what your about to do before you do it. 2. You always lift in the correct manner and if it needs someone else to help don’t be afraid to call for assistance. 3. You always make sure you use the right equipment eg. Rota stand, Hoist. Failing to do adhere to the policy and not follow the different techniques in the right way could result injury for either yourself or the patient or both parties. Could mean a lengthy time off sick and possible unemployment. Also the NHS could be sued for gross negligence. COSHH CU2667 6.1 COSHH means the Control Of Substances Hazerdous to Health. Which means you before using any chemical you should always check the date and the label on  how to use it properly. Never use anything that’s not been labelled, store chemicals away safely and in the proper place. Never mix chemicals and always wear the correct PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). In my working environment we use couple of different types of chemicals such Cloraclean tablets, and disinfectant wipes for cleaning. To use any of these items 1st you check the label. 2nd wear the correct PPE . We always make sure we discard in the correct place according to the instructions. We also deal with bodily fluids and we always use the right chemicals to clean up messes. Failing to follow the right procedure could result in a serious accident to both yourself or another party. Security The security policy in the Hospital is to make sure that all belongings for both Staff and Patient are put away in a safe place and valuables locked away. Also to make sure all medication are locked away in a secure location and to make sure staff and patients are safe from harm. At work we uphold these procedures by locking all medication away in drug cabinets that are attached to their lockers with the nurse in charge the only one with keys to the lockers. All staff keep their belongings in either their lockers or the staff room which is locked at all times with a pin code. The pin code is only known to the staff and if we have agency staff come on to ward to work we let them into the staff room. We keep the main doors to the ward closed at all times. Failing to adhere to this policy could result harm to staff and patients. If the no valuables are locked away properly they could go missing. If the staff room isn’t locked and the pin code is shared with everyone then there is a chance your valuables could go missing. Infection Control CU2667 4.1, CU311 2.1-2.2, CU311 1.1-1.2 The Infection Control policy is in place to make sure that there is no cross contamination and spread of contagious diseases are isolated and kept away from the rest of the ward and hospital. If gives us rules to follow on what we should when handling patients and what to do in between patients for example like the correct way to wash your hands and what PPE to wear. On the ward we uphold these policies by putting signs on our side rooms to let anybody who intends to go into the room know what PPE to wear. We wash our both before and after helping with a patient. We also wear the correct PPE  when needed. We all have a part to play in this both staff and patients, all staff need to adhere to the policy and wash hands when they need to pay attention to signs that say barrier room and follow the instructions for what to wear when they go into the room. Patients need to acknowledge the rules and if asked not to leave a side room or ward they shouldn’t. Failing to follow procedure could result in an outbreak of an infection or disease like Diahorrea and Vomiting for an example. It could result in having less staff at work as a result of sickness, and the ward being closed. RIDDOR RIDDOR is part of the Health and Safety Act of 1974 and deals with serious injuries and dangerous diseases that could result in outbreaks and was brought about in 1995. RIDDOR itself means:- R = Reporting I = Injuries D = Diseases D = Dangerous O* = Occurrences/ R = Regulations To prevent us from ever having to fill in a RIDDOR form we need to make sure that all accidents are reported so we can learn from them on not make the same mistake. Always make sure you follow all signs when they tell you to wear PPE. Always make sure where ever working is clean and tidy when you start something and just the same when you’ve finished. Failing to fill in a RIDDOR form could result in imprisonment and a hefty fine. HCA code of conduct The HCA code of conduct consists of 7 key things and they are the following:- 1. Any action you take at work you need to be able to answer to if the case arises. 2. At all times you have to make sure that every patient has privacy, dignity and at all times have /their rights. 3. You need to be able to work with others members of staff within the NHS or any support staff that come in from outside the NHS at all times for the best needs of the patient. 4. With all members of staff and patients you need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively.5. Always be mindful of confidentiality. 6. Always strive to improve the healthcare that you give and try to improve yourself within the industry. 7. Always be mindful of Equality and Diversity. To adhere to the code of conduct we are always respectful of people’s different religions, culture or disability and treat everyone the same as each other. We always pull curtains when dealing with patients and doing any examinations or washes. On the ward we always have a different variety of NHS employees for example doctors, physios, occupational therapists and at all times we all strive to communicate and work to together so the patients get the best care. Failing to adhere to the code of conduct could result in the health of the patient getting worse, you could be brought in front of a board of inquiry and could potentially lose your job. Risk Assessment CU2667 2.1, CU2666 7.2 A Risk Assessment is a part of the Health and Safety Act, and it is all about assessing any situation and judging if that area or anything that your doing is safe and if it isn’t brain storm some ideas to reduce the risk factor and prevent any accidents. With anything you do at work you always judge in your head to see if it is safe to that job, like for example:- 1. When dealing with infection control issues on the ward we always have to look at are we wearing the correct PPE are they in the right place eg. Side room. What else can we do to prevent cross contamination. 2. When doing our observations on patients at 10am you’ve always got to make sure that the blood pressure machine is in correct working order, is clean and safe to use on patients. 3. When helping patients have a wash by their bedside you always look at is the area clear and free from debris and that the patient is in the right position to have a wash like in her chair or bed. Do you need help. Failing t o do any sort of Risk Assessment could result in harm coming to both you and the patient and result in not complying with the Health and Safety Act which could result in loss of job, a fine or imprisonment. Fire CU2667 7.1a-7.1b The Fire policy is again part of the Health and Safety Act and tells us what to do if a fire breaks out and how to prevent a fire like for example complete risk assessments, keeping all areas clear and most importantly let everyone know what the fire policy is. In consequences of failing to uphold  this policy could in the ward burning down and patients or staff getting injured or loss of life. Consent CU2666 3.1 Consent is very important policy without it you cannot proceed with anything at work, be it something simple like blood pressure or something alittle more serious like surgery. The patient needs to know exactly what your doing and when your doing it. The three types of consent are:- 1. Written – All written consent must be recorded in the doctor’s notes. 2. Verbal – Patient states consent 3. Implied – When a patient cooperates in a manner without talking it over or formal consent. But at all times with everything there must be a clear explanation of what your doing and good communication. We always ask for consent like when we are doing blood pressure, taking blood to check Diabieties and doing pressure checks. If you don’t ask for consent and the patient really doesn’t want something done but you go ahead anyway then you are breeching their human rights and you could lose your job, get taken to court and fined. Confidentiality/Data Protection CU2479 1.1, 2.1, 3.1-3.2 Confidentiality and Data Protection policy means that all staff by signing their contract are all committed to keeping all patient information and staff information is kept in a safe controlled, secure confidential area and kept away from prying eyes. So only staff have access to the information. To uphold this policy we keep all doctor’s notes in the ward clerk’s office so they are away from patient’s visitors and none NHS staff. Also only doctor’s and staff nurses can get to patient’s information on the computer. If a family member phones we can only give them information about how they have been through the night and day but you cannot give them any medical information over the phone. We have both manual and electronic ways of storing information, manually we have doctor’s notes which all staff must fill in when dealing with that patient during the day. Electronically we store information on the computer. Failing to uphold these policys co uld result in loss of your job in breeching data protection and the wrong information giving out to the wrong person if they phone. As NHS staff we should follow the Caldecott Principles which are:- 1. Justify the purpose. 2. Do not use personally indentifiable information unless necessary. 3. Use the minimum of personally identifiable information. 4. Identifiable information should be on a strict need to know basis. 5. Everyone be aware of their responsibilities. 6. Understand and follow the law. Human Rights/Privacy and Dignity This policy is all the patient and that as patients they all get treated in the right manner, you have to respect all their beliefs and cultures and try to understand their points of view. If they don’t want information shared or don’t want to see someone you follow the patient’s wishes. When a patient is having a wash, seeing a doctor, being sick you always protect them by pulling the curtains around them to stop everyone from looking and seeing what’s going on. If you breech human rights you could lose your job and the NHS could be taken to court. Sphere of Competence CU2667 1.4 CU2546 2.1 A Sphere of competence is important because it tells everyone and yourself what you are capable of doing you can only find out your competence level by how much training do and how much experience you have in using your training. At any time you feel you need more training in a pacific area and you don’t feel confident in doing something you should always let your line manager know or the nurse in charge on that day. The 6 things I would not do because of no training are:- 1. Issue of medication 2. Taking blood 3. Inserting a catheter 4. Inserting patient information on the computer. 5. Speaking to a family member about any medical information. 6. Touching IV pumps when they are going or alarming. Anything that I do at work I am liable for everything and would need to be able to answer any questions about my actions if any came up.