EDGE Services Winter Newsletter 2023

EDGE services 

Winter 2023 

NEWS 

LETTER 

Twenty Five Years 

Delivering People 

Handling Training 

EDGE Services celebrates twenty-five years this month. 

We are a small friendly company dedicated to delivering 

high quality training courses and we are passionate about 

what we do. Our trainers work hard to deliver courses that 

develop your skills, knowledge, and confidence which in 

turn will have a direct impact on your performance at work. 

Their aim is for you to become inspired, gain confidence and 

develop your expertise whilst ultimately keeping yourself 

and your clients safe. 

Healthcare organisations have become more aware of the 

importance of maintaining the health, safety, and well-being of their 

employees for them to provide the optimum care for their clients 

and patients. Robust training is an essential element in this. 

Changes in training methods over the years have taken away the 

stigma of health and safety related training. Training has moved 

on from the ‘chalk and talk’ days. It is important to be aware of 

different learning styles, peoples’ fears, and the importance of 

inclusivity in the training environment. 

Risk Assessment is an essential element in producing a safer 

people handling culture. Staff need to be comfortable 

and confident in the risk assessment process, with an 

understanding of ergonomics, looking at the person, the 

environment, aiming to get the best possible match. This 

approach is recommended by the HSE. 

To allow delegates to develop these skills they need to be 

given time, coaching and confidence in a safe environment, 

focussing on them and their workplace. 

Practical Sessions are very closely linked to risk assessment, 

problem solving common people handling scenarios, such as 

sit to stand, chair to chair, repositioning in the bed, the falling 

and fallen person. All the techniques demonstrated are all 

based on up-to-date evidence-based practice, supported by 

the BackCare/National Back Exchange Handling of People 

Guides, (now up to the 7th edition) and supportive texts. 

To help delegates remember the techniques they are taught 

in a logical process, from minimal assistance to maximum 

assistance, delegates all receive a very comprehensive 

course manual, that has become more and more thorough 

over the 25 years and is now supported by the EDGE 

Resource Library including videos of all the techniques. 

We appreciate that there is so much to take in on a 

four-day course, and we want people to be able to 

2012 

2007 

www.edgeservices.co.uk 

01904 677853

2 Winter 2023 Newsletter 


NEWS 

“ 

Hello and welcome to our Winter 2023 newsletter. 

Welcome to a special version of our newsletter, one that see’s us celebrate 25 years in business on 

the 5th of November. 

EDGE started life 25 years ago dedicated to delivering high quality training courses to the Health and 

Social Care Sector, showing real dedication and passion for what we do. To this day I’m proud to say 

we still base our principles on just that, and I am delighted to see the company continuing to deliver 

year on year with a growing portfolio of clients. 

Since acquiring the business two years ago it has been a real pleasure to help improve and move 

forward a fantastic company that has the strongest of foundations, all built on our amazing staff. 

We recently moved to our very own home, a new and modern office facility based in York that allows 

the team both office and field based to continue to grow and develop in fantastic surroundings, 

demonstrating our determination to keep improving and growing as a company. 

We continue to deliver high-quality courses that have been the cornerstone of our success for many 

years, whilst also looking into the future, developing new and important courses that we feel will 

benefit so many people and companies within our industry. At present It’s a hugely exciting time to be 

part of Edge Services, one I’m ambitious for and one I can’t wait to see develop. 

It just leaves me to thank some important people, one being our fantastic staff, you all demonstrate 

the hard work, commitment and effort required to allow Edge Services to carry on being the 

successful and trusted company that throughout the years we have become known for. 

Secondly our many delegates and clients who year on year put their faith in us to continue to deliver 

the quality courses required in an ever-changing industry. 

As a company we feel very honoured that so many clients return to us year on year and trust us to 

deliver our courses to their staff, and we thank the new clients and delegates who also put trust in us 

to deliver on their requirements. 

25 years is truly a remarkable milestone and one every team member past and present should be 

very proud of. I look forward with pride and excitement to helping our company grow and develop 

over the next 25 years. Together we can break even more boundaries whilst continuing to deliver with 

the quality, pride, and passion that Edge Services has become known for. 

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to delivering to all our clients for many 

years to come. 

” 

/EdgeServices 


Craig Haley 

Managing Director, 

Edge Services 

@EDGEhandling

The Normal Spine 

7 cervical - neck vertebrae, 

12 thoracic - chest vertebrae, 

Winter 2023 Newsletter 3 

2015 

SIDE VIEW OF AN ADULT IN THE 

UPRIGHT POSITION 

2005 

The spine or vertebral column runs 

from the skull to the pelvis. 

The spine is made up of: 

Cervical 

region 

Vertebrae - 33 bones which make 

up the main structure of the spine 

and give it its strength: 

5 lumber - lower back vertebrae, 

5 sacrum} _ fused together. 

4 coccyx} 

Facet Joints - link the vertebrae 

together and limit the movement. 

Intervertebral Discs - separate the 

bones and act as shock absorbers. 

They allow free movement. 

Thoracic 

region 

Vertebra 

Muscles - support the spine in the 

upright position, produce and 

control movement. 

Ligaments - hold the bones 

together and add to the stability of 

the spine. 

The Spinal Cord - passes down 

through the middle of the spinal 

column in the spinal canal. It is, 

therefore, protected by the 

vertebrae 

Lumbar 

region 

Disc 

Facet 

joint 

Spinal Nerves - branch off at each 

level of the vertebral column and 

carry nerve impulses (sensory and 

motor) to and from the various 

body structures. 

Sacrum 

Coccyx 

remember all that is taught. The feedback that we get on the 

course manuals and the resource library are very positive. 

Using Evidence Based Practice we are also able to justify WHY 

the controversial techniques are controversial and can provide 

safer solutions, whilst providing delegates with the skills to 

assess the associated risks and encourage positive risk taking, 

justifying decisions. People handling is not black or white. 

To ensure that we are giving the best standards in training we 

strive to maintain our external verification. RoSPA and RCOT 

ensure that training is audited and independently verified. 

Training should be evidence based; National Back Exchange 

and BackCare produce publications on evidence based, current 

best practice. 

To support care organisations and their staff with the changing 

healthcare demographics and budgetary constraints in the 21st 

century we have developed specialist one day workshops in 

Complex Care, Single Handed Care and Management of Plus 

Size People allowing delegates to increase their confidence and 

competence in these specialised, current areas. 

These workshops are, again, risk assessment based, enabling 

delegates to compare the specialist equipment enabling them 

to make decisions on how to provide the safest care options for 

their client as well as maintaining the health and well-being of 

their staff. 

Once the initial course has been completed, delegates need to 

be reassured that they are not on their own. They need to have 

support and guidance to develop their own workplace focussed 

training packages. Our, forever developing, resource library is 

there to provide delegates with all the tools that they should 

need to create their own training packs, from lesson plans, 

PowerPoint presentations, scenarios, and puzzles to enhance 

2012 

the training experience and we are proud of thew full package 

we are able to offer our clients. 

The past 25 years have, thanks to the developers and 

manufacturers, seen a massive improvement of equipment 

available to assist with the moving and handling of people. 

These developers have worked very closely with BackCare 

specialists in developing, slide sheets, in bed systems, 

bespoke slings and overhead hoisting systems. This has 

helped to improve the handling and positioning experience 

of clients, patients, and staff alike. Staff, of course need to 

competent to use all this equipment, which comes from efficient 

competency-based training. 

We thank all our clients, accrediting bodies and most 

importantly our training staff and office members for contributing 

to the journey EDGE has been 

on for the past 25 years and 

we look forward to the next 25 

where we strive to see more 

advancements and training 

that can better the lives of 

healthcare professionals and 

their clients on a daily basis. 


01904 677853


OT Week 

OT Week takes place in the UK on 6-12 November. This OT Week offers an opportunity to reflect on what 

occupational therapy is and what it means to you. 

At EDGE Services we are lucky to have two trainers who have a background in Occupational Therapy. Their expertise in 

this field allows them to bring in their own experiences, to enhance our training courses. 


Our Senior Trainer, Sharon, reflects on her experience as an OT and what it means to her: 

“Every year as OT Week comes around, it can give occupational therapists an opportunity to 

reflect on the reasons why we became an OT and why we still find our career rewarding. 

In my previous occupational therapy roles, whether it involved working in acute care, in the 

community or physical rehabilitation, I relied heavily on my problem-solving skills and ability 

to communicate effectively with both my clients and their support system. The professional 

satisfaction I got when a client improved or made progress towards their personal goals made 

all the hard work and effort worthwhile. 

Within my current role as a manual handling trainer, I rely on those same skills that I 

learned early on in my career. As a manual handling trainer, I am often working in conditions 

where I need to think on my feet and adapt quickly. I am often asked to give advice to help 

solve complex and complicated manual handling problems, often when standard practise hasn’t worked, and the 

multidisciplinary team is struggling for practical solutions or just needs reassurance that they are working in the best 

interests of the client. 

Not every career gives individuals the opportunity to stay working within their profession but in very different 

environments. As an OT I was able to transition from working on a busy inpatient NHS setting to working for a private 

training company. My role continues to allow me to encourage good practise, to support the health and wellbeing of 

vulnerable individuals as well as the opportunity to work with diverse settings, cultures, and environments across the UK.” 

Our Trainer, Vanessa perfectly encapsulates what being an OT means to her: 

“It’s hard to say whether I’m an occupational therapist because of my attitude and approach 

to life, or whether my attitude and approach to life has been shaped by being an occupational 

therapist. I guess it’s probably a little of both. 

So, what is this attitude and approach to life? As an occupational therapist what matters to me 

is the quality of someone’s life. Of course, the definition of ‘quality of life’ varies from person 

to person. And at the heart of that tends to be whether someone can do the things they want 

to do in their life. Can an individual engage in the things that matter to them? And that’s what 

occupational therapy is all about – the things that occupy us, the activities that matter to us. 

Occupational therapists support and enable people to do those things. 

It’s about more than promoting independence (that can be just words). It’s about finding out 

what matters to someone and, if they are struggling to manage that, it’s about finding ways to support them to achieve it. 

It’s about actively empowering people to engage in life the way they want to. 

For some people that might mean being able to manage the daily tasks around the home – getting themselves washed, 

dressed, cooking etc. Other people will be quite content to let others help them with those activities of daily living; they 

want to save their energy to be able to go to the pub, read a book, play the guitar, work on their model railway (yes, all 

things I have supported people with during my career). 

The importance of empowering people to be as independent as possible runs through my whole being, and through my 

personal life as well as my professional life. 

You might be wondering how that shows up in my role as a manual handling trainer, which obviously is very different to 

working with clients one-to-one or in a group. I aim to empower my delegates with the knowledge and skills to train others 

in safe handling techniques. To have the skills and confidence to problem solve the tricky, non-standard, scenarios that 

exist outside the idealism of the training room. Because at the heart of all this are the patients, clients, residents, and 

service users that they work with, who all deserve to have the best quality of life they can have. And if I can empower my 

delegates, to empower the staff/carers/informal carers they work with, to empower the clients and residents, then I’ve 

achieved what I want to. 

I no longer get to see the difference it makes to those individuals, but to focus on what’s important to the clients, to 

improve their quality of life, that’s what I’m all about.” 

On the 22nd – 23rd November, Senior Trainer Sharon, Operations Manager Ruth, and Business Development Manager Beth are 

attending the OT Show. EDGE Services are exhibiting at stand H32 and would love to meet as many of the attending OTs as we can 

so, please pop over to our stand and say hello! You can find out more about occupational therapy at www.rcot.co.uk

Price Increase 

EDGE Services would like to advise our clients that 

our course prices are set to increase from 1 December 

2023. The increase has been brought in to offset the 

rise in our own costs over recent years. We have not 

increased course prices since 1 April 2021. 

Course prices will continue to include our professionally 

bound, full colour course textbooks, proposed onward 

training materials, access to our invaluable post training 

support service for the duration of training certificates 

and, for our ‘people’ and ‘children’ handling courses, 

access to our exclusive online Resources Library, which 

includes videos of practical skills, additional training 

tools and theoretical e-learning programmes. 


We continue to work on additional materials to enhance 

the resources delegates receive upon course completion 

as well as adding to our portfolio of important courses 

such as our recently added Dementia Care Key Trainers 

Certificate. 

Discounted places on public training courses and 

on in-house training weeks will still exist and will be 

communicated periodically on our website. 

All training: public and in-house, booked and confirmed 

before 1 December 2023 will still be charged at the current 

(lower) rate. From the 1st December prices on our website 

will be accurate in accordance to the price increase. 

Additional E-Learning 

Module 

Whilst many of our delegates are already utilising the 

newest module to our online resources’ library, for those 

who aren’t, don’t forget to check it out! 

As part of our commitment to enhancing the service we 

offer, all EDGE-trained Key Trainers, who hold a valid 

‘people’ or ‘children’ handling certificate can now access 

an additional FREE and exclusive Resource Library and 

E-Learning programme by clicking on the Resources tab 

at the top right of our website home page. 

The second e-learning module is up and running! 

The module is designed for front-line staff to enhance 

their understanding of the risk assessment process. 

The module covers ergonomics, the steps required to 

undertake a risk assessment as well as the employee’s 

responsibilities. There are 10 multiple choice questions, 

usually taking between 30-60 minutes to complete. 

Key Trainers can view both Module 1 and 2 first before 

deciding whether it is appropriate for their delegates to 

complete. Full guidance on how to access the e-learning 

can be found on the inside front and back covers of the 

EDGE Services Key Textbook. 

To access the system, you will need to enter your 

surname (this is as your surname appears on your 

EDGE Certificate and is case sensitive) and your EDGE 

Delegate ID number. This five-digit number is found on 

the bottom left of your EDGE certificate. 

The feedback regarding the Resource Library documents 

and the E-learning programme so far has been positive, 

and we hope that those already using them continue 

to find them useful and can benefit from the additional 

e-learning module. 


01904 677853


The Most Highly Endorsed and Accredited Peo 

People Handling and Risk Assessment 

Key Trainer’s Certificate 

Course Accreditations: 

Advanced 

Level 4 Award 

Our flagship FOUR-DAY 

course has long established 

EDGE as a leading provider 

of manual handling and risk 

assessment training to the 

healthcare and social care 

sectors. 

Course Overview 

This course will provide delegates 

with the knowledge, skills and 

confidence to train others in the 

moving and handling of people and 

in the conducting of manual handling 

risk assessments. 

Certification 

This course is accredited as a 

Advanced Level 4 Customised 

Award by RoSPA Qualifications. 

Furthermore, it is a Royal College 

of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) 

Approved Learning Award, certified 

by the CPD Certification Service and 

aligned to the Skills for Care Core 

Skills Training Framework (CSTF). 

Upon successful completion of this 

training you will receive a certificate 

from EDGE Services and a Level 

4 Customised Award from RoSPA 

Qualifications. Both certificates are 

VALID FOR TWO YEARS. 

Forthcoming Public Training Courses Include: 

2023 

12 - 15 December - Manchester 

18 - 21 December - Birmingham 

2024 

9 - 12 January - Oxford 

9 - 12 January - York 

16 - 19 January - London 

30 January - 2 Feb - Glasgow 

6 - 9 February - Birmingham 

13 - 16 February - Manchester 

13 - 16 February - Exeter 

20 - 23 February - Middlesborough 

27 Februay - 1 March - London 

5 - 8 March - Brighton 

12 - 15 March - Cardiff 

19 - 22 March - Glasgow 

19 - 22 March - York 

25 - 28 March - Peterborough 

2 - 5 April - Birmingham 

9 - 12 April - London 

Availibility on some courses is limited, 

please check www.edgeservices.co.uk 

for current details and dates later into 

2024. 

Course Duration: 4 Days 

Public Course Cost: 

£905+VAT per delegate, 

£1050+VAT per delegate in 

London 

01904 677853 www 

Public Training Courses 

Delivered at 12 public locations across the UK. For the 

benefit of individuals and organisations requiring one or 

a small number of places. 

The cost of a public four-day course place is £905+VAT 

per delegate (£1050+VAT – London). Delegate 

certificates are valid for TWO years, making the cost per 

delegate per year of certification ONLY £452.50+VAT 

(£525+VAT – London) 

The cost of a public two-day ‘Refresher/Update’ course 

place is £580+VAT per delegate (£650+VAT – London). 

Delegate certificates are valid for TWO years, making 

the cost per delegate per year of certification ONLY 

£290+VAT (£325+VAT – London) 

Visit our website: www.edgeservices.co.uk/courses to 

book and for the most up to date public course details. 

Not All Manual Handling Training Providers Are The Same


ple Moving and Handling Training in the UK! 

People Handling and Risk Assessment 

Key Trainer’s Certificate (Refresher/Update) 


Advanced 

Level 4 Award 

This TWO-DAY course has 

further consolidated EDGE’s 

position as a renowned provider 

of manual handling and risk 

assessment training to the 

healthcare and social care 

sectors. 


To ensure trainers keep up-to-date 

with legislation and developments 

in manual handling, EDGE 

recommends a ‘Refresher’ at least 

every two years. This course will 

advance delegates’ professional 

development and manual handling 

skills, and provide opportunity to 

share experience with others. 

Certification 

This course is accredited as an 

Advanced Level 4 Customised 

Award by RoSPA Qualifications. 

Furthermore, it is a Royal College 

of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) 

Approved Learning Award, certified 

by the CPD Certification Service 

and aligned to the Skills for Care 

Core Skills Training Framework 

(CSTF). Upon successful completion 

of this training you will receive a 

certificate from EDGE Services and 

an Advanced Level 4 Customised 

Award from RoSPA Qualifications. 

Both certificates are VALID FOR 

TWO YEARS. 

.edgeservices.co.uk 

In-House Training Courses 

Delivered onsite, at a venue provided by and on dates 

convenient for our clients with a programme tailored to suit 

clients’ specific learning needs. 

The cost of an in-house four-day course is £4840+VAT 

for up to 10 delegates. Delegate certificates are valid for 

TWO years, if maximum numbers (10) attend the cost per 

delegate, per year of certification is ONLY £242+VAT. 

The cost of an in-house two-day ‘Refresher/Update’ course 

is £2420+VAT for up to 10 delegates. Delegate certificates 

are valid for TWO years, if maximum numbers (10) attend 

the cost per delegate, per year of certification is ONLY 

£121+VAT. 

Call: 01904 677853 or E-mail: enquiries@edgeservices. 

co.uk for more information. 

Forthcoming Public Training Courses Include: 

2024 

9 - 10 January - Oxford 

16 - 17 January - London 

23 - 24 January - Peterborough 

30 - 31 January - Glasgow 

1 - 2 February - Edinburgh 

6 - 7 February - York 

15 - 16 February - Birmingham 

20 - 21 February - Manchester 

20 - 21 February - Brighton 

27 - 28 February - London 

29 Feb - 1 March - Exeter 

27 - 28 March - York 

4 - 5 April - Glasgow 

18 - 19 April - Birmingham 

30 April - 1 May - London 

2 - 3 May - York 

16 - 17 May - Edinburgh 

21 - 22 May - Oxford 

23 - 24 May - Cardiff 

2 - 5 June - Glagsow 

6 - 7 June - Manchester 

11 - 12 June - Peterborough 

13 - 14 June - Exeter 

25 - 26 June - Birmingham 

Availibility on some courses is limited, 

please check www.edgeservices.co.uk 

for current details and dates later into 

2024. 

Course Duration: 2 Days 

Public Course Cost: 



London 

Prices correct as of 1st December 2023, courses booked before then will be invoiced at the lower cost. 

See page 5 for further details.


Children Handling and Risk 

Assessment 

Children Handling and Risk 

Assessment (Refresher/Update) 

KEY TRAINER’S 

CERTIFICATE 


Course Duration: Four Days 


CERTIFICATE 


Course Duration: Two Days 

This four day course 

will provide you with the 

knowledge, skills and 

confidence to train others 

in the moving and handling 

of children/young adults 

and how to conduct manual 

handling risk assessments. 

For more details please 

visit our website www. 

edgeservices.co.uk/courses 

28 Nov - 1 Dec - Birmingham 

16 - 19 Jan - Brighton 

30 Jan - 2 February - London 

27 Feb - 1 March - Birmingham 

23 - 26 April - Edinburgh 


2 - 5 July - Brighton 

3 - 6 September - London 

5 - 8 November - Birmingham 



London 

This two day Refresher/ 

Update course will further 

advance your professional 

development and manual 

handling skills, and provide 

you with a valuable opportunity 

to trade experience with 

others. 




23 - 24 Nov - Birmingham 

18 - 19 Jan - Brighton 

21 - 22 March - Birmingham 

14 - 15 May - Edinburgh 


9 - 10 July - Brighton 

3 - 4 December - Birmingham 

£580+VAT per delegate. 





Available in-house across the UK. 




We can tailor-make this course to suit 

your requirements. 

Please call us on 01904 677853 to 

discuss your requirements. 





Understanding and Managing 

Behaviour that Challenges 

Understanding and Managing 

Behaviour that Challenges (Refresher/ 

Update) 


CERTIFICATE 




CERTIFICATE 


Course Duration: One Day 

This four day course 

will provide you with the 

knowledge, skills and 

confidence to train others in 

de-escalation and breakaway 

techniques, which can be 

adopted to deal with individuals 

exhibiting challenging 

behaviour. 

30 April - 3 May - York 

23 - 26 July - Birmingham 

19 - 22 November - Glasgow 









This one day Refresher/Update 

course will further advance 

your professional development, 

de-escalation and breakaway 

skills and provide you with a 

valuable opportunity to trade 

experiences with others. 

29 April - York 

22 July - Birmingham 

18 Nov - Glasgow 




Course Duration: One Day 













EDGE services


Dementia Care 

Public Course Dates 2024 

KEY TRAINER’S CERTIFICATE 

Our NEW two day Dementia Awareness Key Trainers 

Certificate course will provide you with the understanding, 

knowledge, and effective strategies to train staff working 

with people with Dementia, to reduce the impact of the 

challenges faced upon the individual and the carers and 

improve the quality of life of those with dementia. 


This two day course will provide delegates with the 

knowledge, skills and confidence to train others in 

awareness of dementia that can be adopted to deal with 

symptoms, challenges and how to work effectively. 

Certification 

Course assessment comprises of a a full case study, 

including report that will be completed during and following 

the course. There is also some pre-course reading to 

compelete. 

Upon successful completion of this training you will 

receive a certificate from EDGE Services and a Level 

4 Customised Award from RoSPA Qualifications. Both 

certificates are VALID FOR TWO YEARS. 

The Training Schedule for 2024 Public Dates are also 

live on our website www.edgeservices.co.uk where 

you will be able to book places quickly and easily via 

the online booking form. 

Please note Key Trainer certificates are valid for two 

years so if you completed your training in 2022, your 

refresher training will be due in the relevant month 

next year. 

We run public courses as well as in-house courses to 

suit the needs of individual organisations. 

If you would like to be added to a waiting list for 

certain dates that are currently fully booked, please 

contact us and we will add you to the list; should there 

be any cancellations you will be contacted and offered 

the place before it is re-advertised on our website. 

You can also follow us on LinkedIn EDGE Services, 

Twitter at @EDGEhandling or on 

Facebook/EdgeServices for news and company 

updates. 

NEW ADDRESS 

For more details please visit our website www. 


In-house Training Courses 




In late September EDGE Services moved offices! 

We are still located in the beautiful city of York and 

are fully settled into our new office. Thank you to our 

clients and delegates who have shown understanding 

and patience as we moved over to our new home. 


We can tailor-make this course to 

suit your requirements. 

13 - 14 February - London 

2 - 3 July - York 

3 - 4 October - Birmingham 


Our website has all the up-to-date contact information, 

but to serve as a reminder, please see full details 

below: 

Telephone: 01904 677853 



Email: enquiries@edgeservices.co.uk 

Course 

Accreditations: 

Level 4 Award 

Post: 

EDGE Services 

Unit 2, Isis Court, 

Rosetta Way, 

York, YO26 5NA. 

/EdgeServices 

@EDGEhandling 

Prices correct as of 1st December 2023, courses 

booked before then will be invoiced at the lower 

cost. See page 5 for further details. 


01904 677853


Crumbling Concrete 

in Hospitals 

Eighteen more hospitals in England contain 

potentially crumbling concrete, bring the total 

affected to 42, the Department of Health has 

confirmed. 

The reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) 

has also been found in 214 schools and colleges in 

England as well as thousands of other buildings. 

NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said the 

concrete “puts patients and staff at risk”. 

Full structural surveys are taking place at all newly 

confirmed sites. The government said it was committed to 

eradicating Raac from NHS buildings completely by 2035. 

Seven of the worst-affected hospitals will be replaced by 

2030 as part of the programme to build 40 new hospitals 

in England, it added. 

Raac is a lightweight material that was used mostly in 

flat roofing, but also in floors and walls, between the 

1950s and 1990s. It is aerated, or “bubbly”. Although 

a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, it is less 

durable and has a lifespan of about 30 years. And when 

it gets wet, the bubbles allow water to enter the material 

making it more likely to crumble. It is not clear how 

much of the concrete is present on each hospital site. 

In most cases, it is in limited parts of a building, health 

officials say. 

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, 

said there had been fears that more of the material 

would be found following surveys of NHS buildings. 

“Trusts are doing everything they can, at huge cost, to 

keep patients safe where this concrete is found,” he 

said. 

Seven trusts that are most at risk will have their Raac 

replaced by 2030, but he said it would be 12 years 

before other hospitals and buildings have it removed 

and replaced - and that could put patients and staff at 

greater risk. 

“The Raac problem is a symptom of a far bigger and 

long-running one,” Sir Julian said. 

“The NHS has a £10bn-plus backlog of repairs as it 

struggles to maintain too many creaking, leaking and 

outdated facilities and buildings. 

“Many trusts still need major investment to refurbish 

ageing buildings and tackle other risks to the safety of 

patients and staff.” 

The Department of Health and Social Care said all 

hospital sites with confirmed Raac were included in a 

national programme backed by additional funding of 

£698m. Where the concrete is identified, inspections and 

surveys will work out the level of risk. Three sites that 

were previously earmarked as having Raac have got rid 

of the concrete and left the programme. 

NHS Waiting List 

NHS waiting lists could top eight million by next 

summer, even if doctor strikes cease, according to 

modelling work by the Health Foundation charity. 

It says industrial action has only contributed a small 

amount, lengthening the list by about 210,000 or 3% of 

the 7.75 million total by August. Chronic shortages of 

NHS staff and funding are the main driver, it says. 

Both NHS England and the Health Foundation say NHS 

work has ramped up to see more patients and clear the 

backlog - monthly referrals for treatment are now back to 

pre-pandemic levels, and growing at a faster rate, which 

is a “positive” sign. But the waiting list is still rising as the 

number of treatments does not yet exceed the number of 

referrals. 

Behind all the numbers are “people anxious for a 

diagnosis, patients in avoidable pain and lives put on 

hold”, says Charles Tallack, from the Health Foundation. 

Patients are waiting for treatment ranging from hip 

replacements to surgery to remove cancerous tumours. 

He said: “The pandemic heaped further significant 

pressure on an already stressed system, but waiting lists 

were already growing long before Covid.” 

An NHS spokeswoman said there had been important 

progress in bringing down the longest waits: “Two-year 

waits have been virtually eliminated and waits of more 

than 65 weeks have more than halved.” She stressed that 

the NHS was still seeing high levels of demand. 

Tim Mitchell, president of the Royal College of Surgeons 

of England, said: “To tackle waiting lists in a meaningful 

and sustainable way, we need transformative solutions. 

“Continuing to invest in surgical hubs across the country, 

focusing on the areas with the longest waits, would 

allow surgeons to operate more efficiently. Hubs protect 

planned surgery from stoppages during busy periods 

when resources are diverted to emergency pressures. 

“Crucially, we must also improve staff morale and 

retention. The government’s commitment to grow the 

healthcare workforce is welcome. However, recruiting 

new staff is only half of the solution. Providing a 

supportive, well-resourced working environment is vital.” 

The British Medical Association, which is a union for 

doctors, said: “Doctors have gone on strike precisely 

because it is only with a fully staffed and fully valued NHS 

that elective care can be put back on a path to normality. 

“Time is rapidly running out to get credible pay offers on 

the table, which would both end strikes and boost the 

recruitment and retention the workforce needs.” 

EDGE services


Conferences & Events 

2023 Dates 

CCTV 

in Care Homes 

CCTV in Care Homes is a very current topic throughout 

the Sector. From cases where care homes are penalised 

for using CCTV, to the benefits of using CCTV. 

Looking at the benefits of installed CCTV in care homes, 

it reportedly cuts down on abuse cases, including staff 

abuse of residents and vice versa, as well as incidents 

between residents or between staff, so keeps both parties 

safe. 

On top of that, it can quickly put to bed a false accusation 

– which can be common when many residents have 

dementia – and can save care homes, staff, and families 

long, painful, and costly legal battles. 

It is even reported that it can even save hospitals money, 

as care homes need to send residents to hospital after a 

fall in case of a head injury, despite around nine in 10 not 

actually suffering a head injury. If paramedics can check 

CCTV footage, they can often determine whether there is 

a head injury risk. This can cut NHS spending and free up 

beds at a time when low funding and wait lists are major 

problems. 

However, in a recent case, the CQC commented: 

“People’s privacy wasn’t always respected. The service 

operated a blanket approach to CCTV, with cameras 

across the home that were running 24 hours a day, 

including in bedrooms and when staff were supporting 

people with personal care. They hadn’t used a personcentred 

approach by adjusting this for people who didn’t 

need this much monitoring. People have the right to 

expect privacy in this place they call home; leaders must 

address this immediately.” The inspection report also 

said: “The use of 24/7 CCTV observation in the home 

also made staff feel overly watched, discouraging them 

from raising concerns.” 

Tuesday 14th November 2023 

The Care Roadshow – 

Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff 

https://www.careroadshows.co.uk/ 

28th November 2023 

Future of Care Leaders Conference North – 

Pavilions of Harrogate 

https://www.futureofcare.co.uk/ 

8th December 2023 

Falls Prevention Summit – 

15 Hatfields, London, OR Virtual - online 

https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/ 

conferences-masterclasses/inpatient-falls-prevention 

22-23 November 2023 

Occupational Therapy Show – 

The NEC Birmingham 

www.theotshow.com 

For those attending this year, you can find us at 

stand H32. Pop over and say hello, it is always a 

pleasure to see our delegates and professional 

colleagues at conferences across the UK. 

22-23 May 2024 

Scottish Manual Handling Forum 

Conference – 

Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel, Glasgow 

http://smhf.co.uk/upcoming-study-days 

Following this most recent inspection report, many 

are left wondering where and when CCTV should be 

implemented and when it would be most beneficial. Is 

there a call for clearer guidelines? 


01904 677853


What Makes Us 

Exceptional? 

✔ Healthcare Professionals All EDGE Services Trainers 

are nurses, occupational therapists or physiotherapists with 

at least ten years clinical experience and extensive training 

experience in this field. 

✔ Fully Accredited All our People and Children Handling 

and Risk Assessment Key Trainer’s Certificate courses are 

accredited by RoSPA Qualifications to Advanced Level 4 

Customised Award. They are RCOT (The Royal College 

of Occupational Therapists) Approved learning Awards, 

certified by the CPD Certification Service as providing 

continual professional development and they are aligned to 

the Skills for Health Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF). 

✔ Compliance with Professional Training Standards 

All EDGE Manual Handling Key Trainer events comply with 

The National Back Exchange Training Standards (2010); 

The All Wales NHS Manual Handling Training Passport 

and Information Scheme (2010) and The Scottish Manual 

Handling Passport Scheme (2014). 

✔ Invaluable Training Resources Professionally 

produced, fully illustrated and comprehensive course 

textbook. Plus proposed documentation to assist and 

support in onward training delivery, these include: 

course agendas, hand-outs, PowerPoint, five modules 

of practical skills videos (demonstrating moving and 

handling practical techniques and tips for staff training 

and assessing). 

✔ On-Line Resources Library Our training is supported 

by an extensive and informative on-line resources library 

offering training tips and tools to develop and enhance 

onward training. 

✔ E-Learning Module Our training is supported by a 

dynamic and user-friendly e-learning modules designed for 

front-line staff’s use. 

✔ Post Training Support Recognising that many questions 

from delegates happen after the training event, our 

full-time administrative team will put you in touch with one 

of our senior trainers to assist you. 

Tel: 01904 677853 

Follow Email: enquiries@edgeservices.co.uk 

us on: /EdgeServices 

Web: www.edgeservices.co.uk 

@EDGEhandling 


01904 677853 

enquiries@edgeservices.co.uk 

EDGE edgeservices.co.uk

EDGE Services Winter Newsletter 2023

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