A whistleblowing hospital porter who was ‘slashed’ three times by used medical equipment has lifted the lid on Basildon Hospital’s crisis with potentially hazardous contaminated waste.
Stephen Courtnell says he had to have a total of four months off work after three separate incidents when he was cut by used scalpels and a needle while carrying bags of waste. In one case he was left with a 10cm gash in his leg after a used scalpel ripped through a plastic waste sack supposed to contain just used tissues and swabs.
The whistleblower, who is still employed by the Trust, said he had to undergo a series of HIV and hepatitis tests and boosters which left him physically sick.
I have no doubt that Mr Courtnell is correct in saying that “It is the laziness and negligence by nurses and medics” that caused his injuries. While great attention is directed toward the introduction of safety sharps to prevent injury to healthcare professionals there is every likelihood that the incidence of sharps injury to hospital ancillary staff and waste handlers will not diminish.
Despite this, EU legislation and its integration into UK law is quite specific, that the protection offered by this new legislative framework is for healthcare staff only.
How does that make a difference, that some contract staff and third party service providers are excluded? Firstly, the burden of proof and scale of compensation will be dramatically reduced. More importantly, the legislation requires a fast track specialist sharps injury treatment and follow-up service for those who suffer injury. Investigation may commence in the Occupational Health Department or in A&E but will then be followed according to detailed protocol to include referral to an infectious diseases specialist.
But not so for waste handlers. You will wait in A&E for an inordinate period, categorised as a minor injury, a little prick in the finger, without full regard for its likely implication and impact on health. Some may fail completely the triage system, and even now are being fobbed off to leave A&E which is for reserved for “serious injuries”!
To sum up? Have a sharps injury through the failure of safe disposal of sharp items by a healthcare professional, and you are on your own. But fight back – make a fuss, push for immediate treatment and comprehensive specialist review. Don’t accept a long wait in A&E. Others may be seriously injured, or suffering heart attack etc, but the speed of review and early administration of prophylactic anti-HIV drugs, if indicated, is of critical importance. Don’t be fobbed off with a band aid.
Perhaps it takes a whistleblower to raise awareness of an alarmingly high incidence of sharps disposal error and sharps injury. HSE and the Environment Agency should be all over the Basildon Trust, to review incident records and disposal practices, training programs and waste audits. But have they yet stirred from their slumbers?