MP Asks for Action on Needle Injuries                                                                                                

Neil Gerrard, Labour MP for Walthamstow, is asking the Government to take action to protect health workers from the risk of acquiring potentially fatal blood borne infections through their work. Mr Gerrard went with other MPs and representatives of the Safer Needles Network to meet Health Minister John Hutton.

"100,000 needlestick injuries a year take place in the NHS" said Mr Gerrard. "This causes enormous stress to staff who are at risk of blood borne viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. There are also significant financial costs to the NHS in terms of staff absence or replacement, compensation payments, and claims for damages."

"Many of the injuries could be avoided by the use of safer needles which are now available. Technological advances mean that there are now needles available which can be disposed of much more safely, and present a minimal risk both to staff using the needles, and to those disposing of medical waste."

"We are asking Ministers to issue guidance to all those in the NHS who buy equipment to encourage them to use safer needles. We also want much better education and staff training on the safe use of needles, and the routine recording and checking of all needlestick injuries."

"The meeting was encouraging, as the Minister listened very carefully to what we had to say, and has undertaken to see how the best practices which are now followed in some hospitals can be spread across the whole of the NHS."

February 2003

Home Page     |     News & Views     |     Press Archive