Call for safer needles in the NHS

[Guest guest]

BBC

Monday, 23 February, 2004, 00:11 GMT

Call for safer needles in the NHS

As many as 100,000 NHS staff may suffer needlestick injuries each year

Healthcare workers are calling on the government to release safety

guidelines for needle use in the NHS.

Needlestick injuries are the second most common injury in the NHS, and four

NHS workers have already died from HIV contracted from infected needles.

Campaigners are calling for safety mechanisms such as retractable needles or

needles with safety guards.

Dr Grime, of the Safer Needles Network, says it is a " significant

problem that is often forgotten about " .

Retractable and safety needles spring back into the barrel of the syringe

immediately after the needle has been used, protecting the clinician from

injury or infection.

Risk of infection

The campaign, 'Safer Needles Now' demands better information and training in

relation to the use of needles in healthcare.

It is being led by the Royal College of Nursing, Unison and the British

Medical Association.

It follows a report released by the National Audit Office which revealed

over one-third of nurses and half of agency nurses had been injured by a

needle at some point in their career.

There are currently 12 cases of HIV infection among NHS workers in the UK

that are suspected to have been caused by needlestick injuries.

You can raise awareness, train and educate people and make available safer

equipment, such as retractable needles and safety guards on needles

Dr Grime, Chairman, Safer Needles Now

Around 23,000 cases of needlestick injury are recorded each year, however

it's believed the incidence could be as high as 100,000.

Needlestick injuries are estimated to cost each NHS trust £500,000 per year.

New guidelines

The Department of Health is set to release guidelines on the issue around

June.

Campaigners have criticised the department saying the guidelines were

supposed to come out almost three years ago.

Minutes released from the Treasury's Committee of Public Accounts suggest

the Department of Health should encourage NHS trusts to " adopt a

comprehensive strategy for dealing with risk of needlestick injuries " .

A spokesperson for the department said it was still committed to releasing

the guidelines.

" The timescale for publishing this response has been extended to allow

issues which have arisen as part of the Shipman Inquiry and the roll-out of

occupational health smartcard scheme, to be considered. "

Dr Grime told BBC News Online there were several ways to reduce the

incidence of needlestick injuries.

" You can raise awareness, train and educate people and make available safer

equipment, such as retractable needles and safety guards on needles. "

" Needlestick injuries are avoidable. "

[Guest guest]

BBC

Monday, 23 February, 2004, 00:11 GMT

Call for safer needles in the NHS

As many as 100,000 NHS staff may suffer needlestick injuries each year

Healthcare workers are calling on the government to release safety

guidelines for needle use in the NHS.

Needlestick injuries are the second most common injury in the NHS, and four

NHS workers have already died from HIV contracted from infected needles.

Campaigners are calling for safety mechanisms such as retractable needles or

needles with safety guards.

Dr Grime, of the Safer Needles Network, says it is a " significant

problem that is often forgotten about " .

Retractable and safety needles spring back into the barrel of the syringe

immediately after the needle has been used, protecting the clinician from

injury or infection.

Risk of infection

The campaign, 'Safer Needles Now' demands better information and training in

relation to the use of needles in healthcare.

It is being led by the Royal College of Nursing, Unison and the British

Medical Association.

It follows a report released by the National Audit Office which revealed

over one-third of nurses and half of agency nurses had been injured by a

needle at some point in their career.

There are currently 12 cases of HIV infection among NHS workers in the UK

that are suspected to have been caused by needlestick injuries.

You can raise awareness, train and educate people and make available safer

equipment, such as retractable needles and safety guards on needles

Dr Grime, Chairman, Safer Needles Now

Around 23,000 cases of needlestick injury are recorded each year, however

it's believed the incidence could be as high as 100,000.

Needlestick injuries are estimated to cost each NHS trust £500,000 per year.

New guidelines

The Department of Health is set to release guidelines on the issue around

June.

Campaigners have criticised the department saying the guidelines were

supposed to come out almost three years ago.

Minutes released from the Treasury's Committee of Public Accounts suggest

the Department of Health should encourage NHS trusts to " adopt a

comprehensive strategy for dealing with risk of needlestick injuries " .

A spokesperson for the department said it was still committed to releasing

the guidelines.

" The timescale for publishing this response has been extended to allow

issues which have arisen as part of the Shipman Inquiry and the roll-out of

occupational health smartcard scheme, to be considered. "

Dr Grime told BBC News Online there were several ways to reduce the

incidence of needlestick injuries.

" You can raise awareness, train and educate people and make available safer

equipment, such as retractable needles and safety guards on needles. "

" Needlestick injuries are avoidable. "

[Guest guest]

BBC

Monday, 23 February, 2004, 00:11 GMT

Call for safer needles in the NHS

As many as 100,000 NHS staff may suffer needlestick injuries each year

Healthcare workers are calling on the government to release safety

guidelines for needle use in the NHS.

Needlestick injuries are the second most common injury in the NHS, and four

NHS workers have already died from HIV contracted from infected needles.

Campaigners are calling for safety mechanisms such as retractable needles or

needles with safety guards.

Dr Grime, of the Safer Needles Network, says it is a " significant

problem that is often forgotten about " .

Retractable and safety needles spring back into the barrel of the syringe

immediately after the needle has been used, protecting the clinician from

injury or infection.

Risk of infection

The campaign, 'Safer Needles Now' demands better information and training in

relation to the use of needles in healthcare.

It is being led by the Royal College of Nursing, Unison and the British

Medical Association.

It follows a report released by the National Audit Office which revealed

over one-third of nurses and half of agency nurses had been injured by a

needle at some point in their career.

There are currently 12 cases of HIV infection among NHS workers in the UK

that are suspected to have been caused by needlestick injuries.

You can raise awareness, train and educate people and make available safer

equipment, such as retractable needles and safety guards on needles

Dr Grime, Chairman, Safer Needles Now

Around 23,000 cases of needlestick injury are recorded each year, however

it's believed the incidence could be as high as 100,000.

Needlestick injuries are estimated to cost each NHS trust £500,000 per year.

New guidelines

The Department of Health is set to release guidelines on the issue around

June.

Campaigners have criticised the department saying the guidelines were

supposed to come out almost three years ago.

Minutes released from the Treasury's Committee of Public Accounts suggest

the Department of Health should encourage NHS trusts to " adopt a

comprehensive strategy for dealing with risk of needlestick injuries " .

A spokesperson for the department said it was still committed to releasing

the guidelines.

" The timescale for publishing this response has been extended to allow

issues which have arisen as part of the Shipman Inquiry and the roll-out of

occupational health smartcard scheme, to be considered. "

Dr Grime told BBC News Online there were several ways to reduce the

incidence of needlestick injuries.

" You can raise awareness, train and educate people and make available safer

equipment, such as retractable needles and safety guards on needles. "

" Needlestick injuries are avoidable. "

[Guest guest]

BBC

Monday, 23 February, 2004, 00:11 GMT

Call for safer needles in the NHS

As many as 100,000 NHS staff may suffer needlestick injuries each year

Healthcare workers are calling on the government to release safety

guidelines for needle use in the NHS.

Needlestick injuries are the second most common injury in the NHS, and four

NHS workers have already died from HIV contracted from infected needles.

Campaigners are calling for safety mechanisms such as retractable needles or

needles with safety guards.

Dr Grime, of the Safer Needles Network, says it is a " significant

problem that is often forgotten about " .

Retractable and safety needles spring back into the barrel of the syringe

immediately after the needle has been used, protecting the clinician from

injury or infection.

Risk of infection

The campaign, 'Safer Needles Now' demands better information and training in

relation to the use of needles in healthcare.

It is being led by the Royal College of Nursing, Unison and the British

Medical Association.

It follows a report released by the National Audit Office which revealed

over one-third of nurses and half of agency nurses had been injured by a

needle at some point in their career.

There are currently 12 cases of HIV infection among NHS workers in the UK

that are suspected to have been caused by needlestick injuries.

You can raise awareness, train and educate people and make available safer

equipment, such as retractable needles and safety guards on needles

Dr Grime, Chairman, Safer Needles Now

Around 23,000 cases of needlestick injury are recorded each year, however

it's believed the incidence could be as high as 100,000.

Needlestick injuries are estimated to cost each NHS trust £500,000 per year.

New guidelines

The Department of Health is set to release guidelines on the issue around

June.

Campaigners have criticised the department saying the guidelines were

supposed to come out almost three years ago.

Minutes released from the Treasury's Committee of Public Accounts suggest

the Department of Health should encourage NHS trusts to " adopt a

comprehensive strategy for dealing with risk of needlestick injuries " .

A spokesperson for the department said it was still committed to releasing

the guidelines.

" The timescale for publishing this response has been extended to allow

issues which have arisen as part of the Shipman Inquiry and the roll-out of

occupational health smartcard scheme, to be considered. "

Dr Grime told BBC News Online there were several ways to reduce the

incidence of needlestick injuries.

" You can raise awareness, train and educate people and make available safer

equipment, such as retractable needles and safety guards on needles. "

" Needlestick injuries are avoidable. "