Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSNeedlestick proceedure legality 'needs clarity'
Anaesthetists are calling for greater clarity on the legal implications of testing incapacitated patients for blood-borne viruses, after a survey found this was often done following staff needlestick injuries.
The anonymous survey of 99 intensive care units in England, Wales and Northern Ireland showed 63 per cent had recorded an incident where a member of staff had suffered a needlestick injury while caring for an incapacitated patient in the past 12 months.
Around half of the 62 patients were tested at the time of the injury and 10 had a blood-borne virus.
Introducing Nursing Times Learning
Subscribers get five FREE learning units and non-subscribers can access each learning unit for £10 + VAT.
Click on the topics below to get started:
Online training units, written and reviewed by experts. Earn two hours' CPD and a personalised certificate for your portfolio.
Subscribers get five FREE learning units and non-subscribers can access each learning unit for £10 + VAT.
Share
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment.