Reporting Injuries and Emergencies
Information for Students, Practice Assessors / Practice Supervisors
If a student is injured or involved in an incident while on placement, the practice assessor or practice supervisor should follow the placement provider’s local policy and ensure that any immediate actions required by the organisation are completed.
Students must follow the placement organisation’s procedures at the time of the incident. As soon as possible thereafter (and no later than the next working day), University of Leeds students should report the incident to the University via the appropriate process outlined below.
Reporting Non-Critical Incidents (physical injuries/accidents or mental health incidents)
Students, academic staff and placement colleagues can report any non-critical incident that occurs on placement by completing the Non-Critical Incident Reporting Form.
This form is managed by the Student Support team in the School of Healthcare (University of Leeds).
Submitting the form ensures:
- Appropriate follow-up and support for the student
- Relevant University teams (such as Student Support, Placements, Occupational Health and other services) are informed and able to respond
- Communication with placement areas where required
Access the Non-Critical Incident Reporting Form:
https://forms.office.com/e/ueHrHsCHQu
Reporting Critical Incidents
Critical incidents should not be reported via the Non-Critical Incident form. As a Placement Provider you must notify University of Leeds security on 0113 343 2222 if:
- A Critical Incident is formally declared and/or
- there is a significant threat to a student’s health and safety and/or
- the emergency services are involved, and the student is either a central figure in the incident or is significantly affected by it. This may arise due to:
- a major incident, or
- a serious concern regarding the student’s health, wellbeing or behaviour.
Such incidents may include but are not limited to: a disaster, an emergency, a crisis, a breakdown or any significant difficulty that requires an organised management response.
Please preface your notification with: ‘There has been a critical incident at [your site]. We host University of Leeds Faculty of Medicine and Health students on placement, and they are likely to/have been impacted by the incident.’ Please provide full details of the incident, your contact details and any communications you have sent to students. This will enable us to reinforce your guidance but also inform us on what else we may need to do to support our students.
Needlestick Injuries (Contamination Incidents)
What is a sharps injury/contamination incident?
A contamination risk incident is where human blood or high-risk body fluid of another person has penetrated your own body. This is generally via needle stick or sharps injury where the sharp has previously been in contact with someone else’s blood/body fluid. It can also be a risk if blood or body fluid is splashed into eyes, nose or mouth, or onto broken or damaged skin. In some circumstances bites and scratches can pose a contamination risk.
All contamination incidents involving human blood/bodily fluids must be reported to the Occupational Health Department ASAP, or the next working day if occurs out of office hours.
What do I need to do in the event of a contamination incident or sharps injury?
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Follow first aid guidance
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Depending on the NHS setting, follow the appropriate action flow
NHS Hospital Setting ACTION, or
Non-NHS Hospital Setting (GP, Dental Outreach, Social Work) ACTION & the risk assessment form
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Email Occupational Health via [email protected] include your name, DOB, details of the incident and mobile number in the email. Occupational health will follow up asap.
Immediate action following a potential exposure incident - in all cases
- Encourage the wound to bleed, but do not scrub the wound - this may increase tissue damage
- Wash any wound or contaminated skin with soap and clean water - cover with a sterile dressing
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If blood is splashed into the eye or mouth, stop and wash out immediately with tap water or saline. Remove any contact lenses
Leeds Beckett University Guidance
Serious Injury
If a student suffers a serious injury which requires the immediate attention of the University please contact:
Leeds Beckett University
University Security
0113 283 3165