Domestic clinical waste – where to leave it?

Clinical waste from domestic sources has been a particular concern on the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum. Too often, these wastes are managed badly, to the great inconvenience of the patient (resident) and the concern of others who might be worried about exposure to these potentially hazardous wastes including sharps, left in accessible locations for extended periods to await collection.

I notice this week a note from Enfield Council who have placed information on their web pages to inform service users that collection days for clinical wastes are changing.

Though the core arrangements will stay the same, the day of week is to change, so let’s hope they contact each service user directly rather than rely only on a web page that might be rather troublesome for the elderly. However, Enfield note that:

The collection procedure will still remain the same.  Please ensure your sharps bin/clinical waste sack(s) are sealed and placed out for collection on your doorstep by 7am on the day of collection.  With each collection we will provide you with replacement sharps bin/clinical sacks.

Please note – If you live in flats, please present your sealed sharps bin/clinical waste sack(s), outside your communal entrance front door.

 

 

 

 

 

So wastes will be left without supervision, in communal locations at the entrance to a tower block. And later, perhaps some considerable time later, new sacks and sharps bins will be left in the same spot.

I sympathise with Enfield and others organising these services. It cannot be easy, and any more personal – dare we say helpful and considerate – service will cost vast sums of money.

But for the elderly and infirm this really is a challenge that many could well do without. Perhaps there is support from a home help, a relative or a neighbour, but if the resident is to manage this single-handedly it is no surprise that problems arise. Missed collection with wastes sitting in totally unsuitable locations give rise to complaints, or incidents of spilled wastes. It gets worse, and ever more costly.

It would be, in some quarters, an unwelcome suggestion but perhaps this is a service that might be transferred in its entirety to social services, to operate vans collecting wastes, and where necessary soiled linen, with drivers able to visit the householder and provide assistance with bagging wastes. carrying bins and sacks, and distributing new supplies? If outsourced, but under that same umbrella, then there are many companies providing the support services to social servicers, delivering supplies to the infirm and those others receiving care in their own home. When those medical supplies are delivered packaging waste and some drug waste containers (mainly dialysis bags) are removed. Why then, not extend this service to manage clinical waste collections also?

If that creates waste carriers of clinical support companies, or extends the role of the existing waste management companies it really doesn’t matter. Either way, or a collaboration between the two specialties, would be ideal, to provide a better yet more effective and user-friendly service to the growing numbers of domiciliary patients.

 

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