Gateshead & South Tyneside Local Pharmaceutical Committee 2014 have put out the following message that tells of information mismanagement in the safe disposal of sharps from domestic users:

“It has been brought to our attention that the NHS Area team have not renewed a contract with Middlefields “tip” in South Tyneside for the collection of sharps containers from patients.  Historically Middlefields used to pick up sharps from peoples homes and also used accept sharps at their site.

From 1st January this will no longer be the case.

We understand some patients have been directed to pharmacies.  The LPC acknowledges that most pharmacies can not accept sharps bins from patients under  the current waste contacts that are in place.

We have spoken to medicines management who have now clarified that patients should be directed to take their sharps to their GP’s who can dispose of them with their own sharps collections.

We have been assured that a message has been sent to GP’s via their practice managers to clarify the current situation.

The message tells of poor information management in circumstances that is likely to create considerable inconvenience for users, at least during the transition, with filled sharps bins being taken here and there until someone accepts them, and accepts the cost of disposal.

A change such as this will always be troublesome, not least due to the number of patients/individuals involved. Not all will have access to the internet or email facilities, and may find out about changes only when the next go to dispose of a filled sharps bin.

Let us hope this doesn’t cause so much uncertainty and inconvenience that sharps bins are dumped in favour of a new ‘approved’ disposal route.