Disposing of medical sharps?
Discussion
My mum had surgery a while back and when she was discharged she was issued with a load of DVT pens - not sure of the technical term but they're individually sealed with a mechanism where once you've stabbed it it retracts automatically and cannot be reused etc.
She was also issued with a sharps bin which is now full as the month or so's supply has been used.
The hospital is 25 miles away. Nowhere local will accept the bin, the GP's don't want to know, the local pharmacies don't want to know - apparently none of them can accept it.
It seems slightly strange to be expected to drive 25 miles back to the hospital to give it to them.
Does anyone have any idea what the rules and regs on this are?
She was also issued with a sharps bin which is now full as the month or so's supply has been used.
The hospital is 25 miles away. Nowhere local will accept the bin, the GP's don't want to know, the local pharmacies don't want to know - apparently none of them can accept it.
It seems slightly strange to be expected to drive 25 miles back to the hospital to give it to them.
Does anyone have any idea what the rules and regs on this are?
New search function found it http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=151...
used the same type of needle a couple of weeks ago, I was told my local GP which has a walk in clinic will take them, but as I'm at the hospital every week it wasn't an issue taking them back. There is no rush to return them can you not save them until you are at the hospital for a follow up appointment?
Literally nobody will take these f
king things.
My mum has phone environmental health, the doctors, every pharmacy in town, and nobody will take them apparently because the hospital issued a 2.5L bucket even though it isn't actually full.
Laughable really, if we dumped them at the side of the road they'd be dealt with, yet you try to do the right thing and nobody wants to know.
king things.My mum has phone environmental health, the doctors, every pharmacy in town, and nobody will take them apparently because the hospital issued a 2.5L bucket even though it isn't actually full.
Laughable really, if we dumped them at the side of the road they'd be dealt with, yet you try to do the right thing and nobody wants to know.
I'm surprised your GP has refused. I have to dispose of sharps regularly in my line of work and I use private companies like Initial. It's pretty scandalous if you have to pay for this but if your health care providers aren't interested you're going to struggle.
If you are anywhere near London/Essex and can drop them off to me I'd be happy to take care of it for you.
If you are anywhere near London/Essex and can drop them off to me I'd be happy to take care of it for you.
Thanks, very kind of you but I'm not close to you.
It won't cost anything other than fuel to go to the hospital, and it's a bucket of needles so it's not causing any harm but the principle has really annoyed me.
If my mum was an 80 year old lady who had no family or any other means of doing a 50 mile round trip back to the hospital where she had the operation, what would she be supposed to do?
If she'd had emergency surgery at the other end of the country what would she be supposed to do?
Every single person she's spoken to has agreed 100% with her that it's ridiculous, but "computer says no".
It won't cost anything other than fuel to go to the hospital, and it's a bucket of needles so it's not causing any harm but the principle has really annoyed me.
If my mum was an 80 year old lady who had no family or any other means of doing a 50 mile round trip back to the hospital where she had the operation, what would she be supposed to do?
If she'd had emergency surgery at the other end of the country what would she be supposed to do?
Every single person she's spoken to has agreed 100% with her that it's ridiculous, but "computer says no".
Agreed, very frustrating.
The majority of sharps I deal with are taken from properties or areas where addicts have been using and sharing.
I can't speak for everywhere but in the London area an awful lot of money has been spent on their welfare. All sharps containers have twee little messages about "Taking a break" and "Use a clean one!!!". All users are constantly supplied with free syringes, pads (with more little slogans and cute pictures) and those little portable spoons that look like something you'd get with a Danone yoghurt.
Any user (or non-contributing, thieving, disease spreading waste of oxygen - depending on your preference) will always have full support from health professionals and walk in centres to acquire, use and dispose of their gear. Nothing is too much trouble.
However, you're Mum isn't on the list, so she's not coming in.
Christ I'm in a cynical mood tonight!
The majority of sharps I deal with are taken from properties or areas where addicts have been using and sharing.
I can't speak for everywhere but in the London area an awful lot of money has been spent on their welfare. All sharps containers have twee little messages about "Taking a break" and "Use a clean one!!!". All users are constantly supplied with free syringes, pads (with more little slogans and cute pictures) and those little portable spoons that look like something you'd get with a Danone yoghurt.
Any user (or non-contributing, thieving, disease spreading waste of oxygen - depending on your preference) will always have full support from health professionals and walk in centres to acquire, use and dispose of their gear. Nothing is too much trouble.
However, you're Mum isn't on the list, so she's not coming in.
Christ I'm in a cynical mood tonight!
blearyeyedboy said:
Stewie, I'm genuinely shocked no pharmacies/GP's will help you. That's not the case in my region (S East).
As a last resort, contact the PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) for the hospital who discharged your mum.
the local authority is responsible for clinical waste collection As a last resort, contact the PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) for the hospital who discharged your mum.
OP, I understand your frustration. If all else fails you could try one of the waste management companies. It will cost you though.
http://www.direct365.co.uk/waste/clinical-and-heal...
https://www.phs.co.uk/our-products/washrooms/medic...
http://www.direct365.co.uk/waste/clinical-and-heal...
https://www.phs.co.uk/our-products/washrooms/medic...
OK an update and a slight descent into farce.. 
My mum called the hospital today and spoke to the Staff Nurse on the ward she was on, who was equally incredulous at the situation.
The Staff Nurse said "Leave it with me" and called my mothers GP and asked to speak to the practice manager.
The practice manager was equally bemused (and seemingly unaware) that they couldn't accept 2.5L sharps bins - because they also give out 2.5L sharps bins.
The practice manager has agreed that my mum will drop off the sharps bin with the GP for his/her attention, and because by total co-incidence they live near to the hospital, they will drop them off there.
So a result, but you really couldn't bloody make it up
My mum called the hospital today and spoke to the Staff Nurse on the ward she was on, who was equally incredulous at the situation.
The Staff Nurse said "Leave it with me" and called my mothers GP and asked to speak to the practice manager.
The practice manager was equally bemused (and seemingly unaware) that they couldn't accept 2.5L sharps bins - because they also give out 2.5L sharps bins.
The practice manager has agreed that my mum will drop off the sharps bin with the GP for his/her attention, and because by total co-incidence they live near to the hospital, they will drop them off there.
So a result, but you really couldn't bloody make it up
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