In an horrific twist on the now all-too-common tale of sharps injury to a member of the public coming into contact with a discarded needle, usually discarded drug litter, a Bournemouth man has suffered a sharps injury after stepping onto a discarded hypodermic needle in a hospital car park.
The needle, which pierced his trainer, may have been discarded by an IV drug user – many hospitals provide specialist services for this patient group – or, as explained by staff at the hospital “accidents happen” and that “needles do stray during transportation”.
“Accidents happen” and “needles do stray during transportation” are quite outrageous comments that should, and probably will, cost them dearly.
But will the regulators – the Environment Agency and HSE, local EHO or CQC – do anything about such a lax outlook on sharps safety? No doubt a good solicitor will.