Patient transport and risk assessments
Patient transport and the importance of risk assessments
We can’t stress enough how important risk assessments are in a patient transport service. They are absolutely essential to patient safety and providing quality service. Therefore every single journey we complete begins with a detailed and thorough risk assessment. This ensures both the safety of the clients we support, some of whom who may be suffering from very severe mental illness, together with our staff.
What we say:
‘Our services are provided based on an individual examination of risk factors and safety planning. We are able to provide several tiers of vehicle security to cater for every eventuality and individuals need’.
How do we do this?
Our services are person-centred in every aspect, and every client is different. Therefore we complete individualised risk assessments on every single occasion.
What is a risk assessment?
The HSE’s definition of a risk assessment is:
“….a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm….”
Five steps to risk assessment can be followed to ensure that your risk assessment is carried out correctly, these five steps are:
- Identify the hazards.
- Decide where the harm may come from and how.
- Evaluate the risks and decide on control measures.
- Record your findings and implement them.
Dynamic Risk Assessments
Risk is dynamic, so consequently is affected by circumstances that change quickly. However, a dynamic risk assessment is a continual process whereby we observe and analyse the environment to identify potentially changing risks.
We carry out formal risk assessments in advance, however, dynamic risk assessments are ever-changing. Therefore we carry these out on the spot when there is a change, for example, in the situation, the patient’s behaviour, or the environment.