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Sharps boxes, where have they gone???

sandiepops

sandiepops

Member
Messages
13
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Anyone else having problems getting a sharps box to fit all there needles in and pump things etc, I have tried getting sharps boxes from every were and apparently they have stopped the funding for sharps boxes as it isn't essential!
Now in my opinion it is essential! Were are we supposed to put all our sharps? Am I expected to let my kids play with them all because I can't find any way of disposing of my needles properly all because the NHS thinks it's a none essential!!
I have been in contact with the diabetes centre at James Cook and they don't seem to care, I have also been in contact with my doctors and they don't seem too bothered about it. So I rang the council and they said they can't help even though I said "Well I guess I will have to put them in my bin" as you probably know already you aren't allowed to do that! So then I rang PALLS and I'm still waiting on a response from them a week later.
So in the mean time what am I supposed to do with my needles???? No one can seem to answer that question!
 
sandiepops said:
Anyone else having problems getting a sharps box to fit all there needles in and pump things etc, I have tried getting sharps boxes from every were and apparently they have stopped the funding for sharps boxes as it isn't essential!
Now in my opinion it is essential! Were are we supposed to put all our sharps? Am I expected to let my kids play with them all because I can't find any way of disposing of my needles properly all because the NHS thinks it's a none essential!!
I have been in contact with the diabetes centre at James Cook and they don't seem to care, I have also been in contact with my doctors and they don't seem too bothered about it. So I rang the council and they said they can't help even though I said "Well I guess I will have to put them in my bin" as you probably know already you aren't allowed to do that! So then I rang PALLS and I'm still waiting on a response from them a week later.
So in the mean time what am I supposed to do with my needles???? No one can seem to answer that question!
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You only need a 1 ltr container for sharps even if on a pump. The bin says sharps only so lancets and,needle inserter from cannula needle from cartridge fill is all that goes in there. You do not need to put in the cartridge or tubing.
I've had my one ltr bin for over 3 years and it's not even half full.
Your GP is supposed to provide the bin so go talk to him, if you can't get one from him then look on amazon or if living in the sticks look in an agri store as they stock them same as pharmacist can order you one. They cost less then £3. Needles can also go in an old drinks can as a last resort.
 
We don't get given sharps boxes anymore as there is no funding in my area apparently!
 
sandiepops said:
We don't get given sharps boxes anymore as there is no funding in my area apparently!
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That's nonsense and they are spinning you any old story, your gp has a duty to provide you with a sharps bin so you can dispose of your sharps safely, speak with the gp practice manager and ask them what you are supposed to do with your sharps.
 
Mine go safely straight into the dustbin and have done for many years. Disbetes invades my life enough without looking at s sharps bin as well to remind me
 
I already spoke to my GP practice and so have the council, only my GP practice wouldn't talk to them for some reason.
 
I've never even tried to get one as 40 years ago they weren't given to me I've always well now days bought a large biscuit sized plastic box from a puns shop which lasts me about 4-5 yrs and put my needles and adapters from my pump in I've always then securely taped it the wrapped in card and taped again and written on it several times SHARPS ENCLOSED and taken it down the local tip where I put it in non recyclables. I've never been advised by any medical staff as what to do with them whether this is a wrong thing to do I don't know
 
sandiepops said:
I already spoke to my GP practice and so have the council, only my GP practice wouldn't talk to them for some reason.
Click to expand...

Only thing I can think of is see another gp and ask them what you are supposed to do with your sharps, print off the article in the link that I provided earlier and hand it to them.

However, at a push you can buy them yourself as CarbsRok pointed out and they are quite cheap.
 
masonbason63 said:
I've never even tried to get one as 40 years ago they weren't given to me I've always well now days bought a large biscuit sized plastic box from a puns shop which lasts me about 4-5 yrs and put my needles and adapters from my pump in I've always then securely taped it the wrapped in card and taped again and written on it several times SHARPS ENCLOSED and taken it down the local tip where I put it in non recyclables. I've never been advised by any medical staff as what to do with them whether this is a wrong thing to do I don't know
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Pretty sure your not supposed to do that lol, I'm a phlebotomist and work with needles everyday and know the dangers of getting stuck by a needle, there is always body fluid left in the needle / cannula and none of these should ever go in the bin/tip they should be disposed of properly and safely within a sharps box.
 
iHs said:
Mine go safely straight into the dustbin and have done for many years. Disbetes invades my life enough without looking at s sharps bin as well to remind me
Click to expand...
Pretty sure your not supposed to do that lol, I'm a phlebotomist and work with needles everyday and know the dangers of getting stuck by a needle, there is always body fluid left in the needle / cannula and none of these should ever go in the bin/tip they should be disposed of properly and safely within a sharps box.
 
iHs said:
Mine go safely straight into the dustbin and have done for many years. Disbetes invades my life enough without looking at s sharps bin as well to remind me
Click to expand...

Imagine the uproar if your bin was to blow over and kids/anyone in the street found your sharps lying out. If the bin men were to find sharps in your rubbish you could possibly face a fine and they (quite rightly) could refuse to lift your bins.

Here, we get the wee 1 litre sharps boxes on prescription. They can't write a script for one any bigger, despite the fact that it's difficult to get the Inset II into the box safely and they are filled in no time. So I've been buying 2.5 litre ones from Amazon, bigger opening on top and they last much longer. Disadvantage is that only the larger chemists take them for disposal.
 
Another option is to have a needle clipper thus no bin required.
 
Im afraid that no one here where I live is bothered about issueing sharpsbins or for that matter telling people where they can go with them to dispose safely. All my pen needles are inserted back into the clear plastic funnel and the needle tip is bent over with the back of a pencil so that no one can be hurt. My introducer needles are put in a plastic bottle. The plastic casing for the Inset II is recycled and I push the white spring out.
Loads of things get chucked out in rubbish bags all the time. How many people use tin openers and just fling the lid in the rubbish instead of leaving a bit of it attached to the tin so that it can be pushed down inside the tin.And what about soiled nappies and poo going all over the place?
 
We shouldn't have to put up with it, I think we should make a stand and tell them how it is and maybe they should come up with a solution because what some of you are telling me is soooo wrong. But what else can we do!

My suggestion is that we all put a complaint in to PALS just ring any hospital and ask to be put through to PALS and lodge a complaint about the sharps bins not being issued or not being practical what ever the reason we shouldn't have to deal with it.
 
The council collect my sharps bin and deliver a new one when it's full, I just leave it outside the front door. Can't believe you are having a problem, I got my first ever one on prescription without a problem too.
 
The council were I am don't do that unless your a drug addict and even then you have to take your sharps box to the chemist and they only give out tiny sharps boxes and only give them to the drug addicts. It's almost like they care more about drug addicts than people who have diabetes.
 
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