Almost 84,000 workplace incidents reported to HSE in 2010

Nearly 83,500 incidents of harm and near misses were reported in the Health Service last year according to the HSE and State Claims Agency.

Slips, trips and falls accounted for more than 26,000 of the incidents, with 9,700 incidents of violence, harassment, aggression and abuse against patients.

And there were nearly 7,000 medication errors; where people were given the wrong drugs, or weren't give any at all.

The numbers are broadly similar to previous years, but the HSE's National Director of Quality and Patient Safety, Philip Crowley says work must continue in reducing the incidents.

"Readers and listeners will be distressed by the data that we put out into the public domain today," Mr Crowley said.

"I'm distressed by it, I think that we need to continue to strenuously work to identify root causes to these incidents."