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Sharps box

Sarah69

Sarah69

Well-Known Member
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1,500
Location
Hethersett, Norwich
Type of diabetes
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Insulin
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Anything healthy!
Hi,

My mum uses a sharps box for her needles, does anybody else use these and have them collected when full? My mum is housebound. Thanks
 
This is a similar thread, @Sarah69

Type 1 - Sharp box

When I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago I got given a sharp box and it’s not been put on my prescription and they’re not giving me one until it is. Does anyone not have a sharp box, where do you put used needles etc
www.diabetes.co.uk www.diabetes.co.uk

Hope this helps
 
Unfortunately, this is something that varies around the UK.
In some cases, a pharmacy may take the full box, in some it is the doctor and in others it is the local authority.
You can check some of this online such as the local council's website should explain if they collect from your Mum's house.
In my case, I need to book a collection with the council and put the sharps box outside the night before.
 
I use a sharps box. Just had one picked up today by the council. Have to book it though.
 
I was told to put sharps in a plastic bottle and dispose of in waste bin. However, when my husband recently had a hip replacement operation, he was given filled syringes to use once per day for five weeks, to prevent blood clotting. He was given a sharps box for the used syringes and was told to take it to a pharmacy for disposal. One rule for diabetics and another for non diabetics!
 
Since moving to a pump I've been eying the sharps generated by a set change and wondering if I need to put them in a sharps bin. The needles are very thin and small....

I can see that syringes need to be disposed of safely, but cannula needles. I'm not so sure.
 
When I was first diagnosed, 20 years ago, I was told to put my sharps in a bottle.
However, when I transferred to a pump, the DSN was shocked that I was going that and ensured 8 got a sharps bin. I suspect the rules changed along the way and they forgot to tell me. I wonder if that is the case for you too, @dancer
As for small sharps with a pump, they are still sharp and potentially more dangerous because they are smaller. So still go in a sharps bin. At least that is the case in England. I have a lot less sharps that when I was on MDI so it takes a long time to fill my yellow bin.
 
I have a litre bin for sharps and a 7l one for Libre gubbins-as decided by our area. All bins are given on prescription and returned to Gp. It’s a bit like the general waste, different systems for different areas. Too complicated and not joined up.
 
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