title: Lifting and handling of patients by anaesthetists.
abstract: The process of transferring patients from the operating table was assessed in a district general hospital. The survey was conducted in two parts; a confidential questionnaire was sent to all members of the department and a month long assessment of three anaesthetists' caseload was undertaken. All the anaesthetists questioned had scanty knowledge of the relevant manual handling regulations. Although 70% of anaesthetists questioned lift and transfer patients on a regular basis, none had received any relevant training. Ninety-six percent of patient transfers were performed by two staff alone, even though there were five or more staff available to assist at 95% of transfers. Difficulty in transferring patients occurred in 32% of cases. Improvement of training anaesthetists in safe manual handling procedures is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Anaesthetic Sciences, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Luntley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Pearce
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education; D001835:Body Weight; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010361:Patients