UNISON Calls For End To Needlestick Agony, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice;  HIV / AIDS;  Medical Devices
Article Date: 19 Feb 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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UNISON, the UK's largest public sector union, is calling on NHS Employers to banish the agony of needlestick injuries (NSI) for good, by making safer needles compulsory across the health service. The call comes in the wake of the tragic death of gifted nurse, Juliet Young, who contracted HIV from a needlestick injury while working at the Maudsley Mental Health Hospital in London.

Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said:

"Juliet Young's death is a tragedy, made sadder still, because it was preventable and our hearts go out to her family. Safer needles are available and Juliet's death begs the question - how many more people have to die before NHS Employers make safer needles compulsory throughout the NHS?

"We need accurate data to assess the extent of the NSI problem but estimates put the number of injuries as high as 100,000 every year. Each one puts the person affected through months, sometimes years of agony. I have no doubt that news of Juliet's death will add to their fear and misery, as they go through all the tests and treatment necessary following a needlestick injury.

"The European Commission is currently looking at Europe wide legislation on safer needles. If safer needles were made compulsory across Europe there would be economies of scale that would bring down the cost of safer devices benefiting everyone."

Notes

The UK Health Protection Agency latest statistics show that reported exposures in the UK to blood borne viruses (HIV, Hep C & Hep B) in healthcare settings caused by percutaneous injuries have increased by nearly 50% from 206 in 2002 to 306 in 2006. These figures are only the tip of the iceberg. Although the number of reported NSI in UK are not collected centrally, estimates (including unreported incidents) put their number as high as 100,000.

The only official figures in the UK come from the results of a survey published by NHS Scotland of the 28 Scottish trusts, conducted between 1996 and 1999. This revealed a total of 6811 reported NSI in the period in question. The same report also said that unreported incidents meant this figure may only account for as little as 30% of the actual total, that NSI cost NHS Scotland £78,682 per year, and that the use of safer needles would reduce this figure by 60%.

UNISON