A BAN on talcum powder and air fresheners from hospital wards because they might cause patients to slip and fall has been attacked as "ludicrous" by the campaigner fronting the appeal to Save Bridlington Hospital . Mick Pilling (chairman) Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group said; threats of closure and staff shortages were the main issues at the East Yorkshire hospital and the ban on the products was silly.

Mr Pilling said: "What will be next? No fruit in case any peel goes on the floor? I think the ban is a ludicrous decision. Patients need to use aerosols to keep clean and talc to stop irritations caused by sitting on a bed all the time.

"The main issue at the moment is the shortage of nurses, they are working flat out, but hospital chiefs come up with these silly ideas and don't look at the main issues."

The manager at Bridlington Hospital , Sue Wellington, put up posters around the wards saying the ban was "as a result of advice from the Health and Safety Executive".

The executive, however, insists it has not told any hospitals to ban the products.

A spokesman for the hospital health trust said: "People may think this sounds like bureaucracy, but its simple common sense in the face of a very important issue. Given an elderly population such as we have in Bridlington, not only are falls more likely, they're more serious when they do occur.

"If an elderly person falls they can injure themselves badly, need a long treatment and recovery time, and that can signal the end of their independence.

"Some months ago we had tests done by the Health and Safety Laboratory. The results showed that talc on the floor presented a significant hazard, and increased the possibility that patients or staff might slip.

"In particular, if talc gets on to the soles of slippers, a fall is more likely, hence the decision to ask people not to use it.

"Any inconvenience in not using talc is far outweighed by the safety angle which is really good common sense, and is something that people might like to bear in mind if they have vinyl floors in their own bathrooms.

"No one would expect us to leave floors slippery with water; we're just taking this one logical step further."

Councillor Richard Harrap supported the hospital's decision. He said: "There is a real issue with regard to falls and fall prevention, particularly with elderly people and if hospital managers have identified a risk, they obviously have a duty to minimise it.

"It's not an easy judgement to make but if accidents may have been avoided in this way, I can't criticise the decision."

A spokesman for Health and Safety Executive said: "We have not banned the use of any specific products in Bridlington Hospital . The hospital authorities, noting recent research on the risk of slips, have taken the initiative in trying to address an issue that causes many accidents within the NHS.

"Floors in hospitals tend to be smooth, therefore any product that might increase the likelihood of slips needs to be carefully considered and controlled. Such matters rest with the hospital."

Last Updated: 10 March 2007

Mick Pilling (writes) Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group

The Bridlington Hospital pays more attention to putting up silly signs; the main problems are shortage of staff on all wards; the ban on overtime and the ban on recruitment whilst the Scarborough NHS Trust decide what it can cut to retrieve its £7.2m debt year ending April 2007;  planned cuts to all services include; the overnight closure of Minor Injuries Unit 9am to 9pm since September 2006; Taking Maternity Services to Scarborough Hospital; cutting the 6 bed ward in Cardiac Monitoring Unit & remove to Scarborough; the reduction of Wards Thornton & Kent Surgical services the real issue never get out into the public until its too late; these so called PCT's & Trusts work by Stealth and backdoor procedures as we all know.