Accidents in Airedale NHS Trust establishments are costing the health service £3.3 million a year, a new report has revealed.

The trust board heard on Wednesday that 2,377 accidents, attacks, thefts and damages to property were recorded over the last year.

forty-five accidents were sufficiently ser-ious to involve the Health and Safety Executive, 12 injuries kept staff away from work for more three days and six staff were seriously injured. And 27 patients sustained major inj-uries while in hospital.

Steps taken to remedy the situation include the drawing up of a draft health and safety policy, staff training and the setting up of a risk management committee. Staff are being asked to look for hazards, decide who may be at risk of harm and whether existing precautions are adequate.

The 11-page risk management report showed that the situation improved during 1997.

However, there was an increase in violent incidents recorded partly due to the growing national problem with drugs and alcohol and better reporting by staff.

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