Cheltenham General Hospital’s cleaners traumatised by needlesticks

“More than a dozen cleaners at Cheltenham General Hospital say they have been left severely traumatised after they were stabbed by hypodermic needles in the last 12 months.

“At least 13 members of staff at the hospital have reported being pierced by used syringes in the last year due to “improper disposal” by medical teams.

“The “domestic assistants” have condemned “poor practices” by the hospital’s doctors and nurses which they say are putting the health of the cleaning teams at risk.

“Cheltenham General Hospital has admitted liability for seven cases of piercing by hypodermic needles and one case of contributory negligence.

Regrettably, there is no mention of intervention by any of the various regulators that might step up to the plate here, either HSE or CQC, perhaps even the Environment Agency.

One can only hope that the costs of a private compensation claim has been sufficient to drive a sustained improvement in disposal practise.

Although sharps injury rates are highest among frontline healthcare professionals, we should remind ourselves that a US study comparing injury rates with employment statistics revealed an overall rate of injury among support staff 10x greater than that for nurses, and 30–40x  greater than for clinicians (Leigh et al. Characteristics of persons and jobs with needlestick injuries in a national data set. Am J Infect Contr 2008; 36(6): 414–20).

I guess that the cleaners at Cheltenham General Hospital found that out the hard way.

 

 

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