Services Database Disposal of Used Sharps (Hambleton Area)

Community pharmacies will continue to supply sharps bins to patients in the usual manner when presented with a valid prescription from a prescriber. This service does not propose to circumvent this means of supply. Community pharmacies will subsequently provide a disposal service for these patient generated sharps in order to facilitate its safe disposal. Patients will return filled and sealed sharps bins to the pharmacy. The community pharmacy will safely store the returned sealed sharps bins in a storage container provided by Hambleton District Council until the regular collection by the nominated waste disposal collection company.

A licensed waste management contractor will be commissioned by Hambleton District Council on a monthly basis to remove the filled and sealed sharps bins from the pharmacy and arrange their safe disposal.

Service aims

The aims of the service are to:

• provide patients with a safe and convenient route for the disposal of sharps;
• reduce the volume of sharps stored in patients’ homes, by providing a convenient route for disposal, thus reducing the risk of accidental needle-stick injuries;
• reduce the environmental damage caused by the use of inappropriate disposal methods for sharps;
• improve the health of local communities by preventing the spread of blood-borne infections by ensuring the safe disposal of sharps; ans
• reduce the risk of needle stick injury in the community and inappropriate disposal of used injectable sharps.

 

Not known.