Sharps Bin

[chessington]

Hi im diabetic, I have a sharps bin for needles and it has been being collected and replaced for years. It has not been collected for a long time now and the company Essentia who used to do it have not done so, I contacted them 5 times now and they have given dates when to leave it outside, they have never collected it, I am not allowed to put it in the normal bin, have nowhere to dispose of needles now?? just wondered what to do and who to contact TIA

[Sqad]

Good point chessington ,it's a shambles and I have no relevant answer to your question.

[diddlydo]

Contact your local authority.

[sunny-dave]

Talk to your local pharmacy - the one where you get your insulin. They ought to be able to dispose of the old one and provide another - or at least help with getting a more reliable supplier

[ it does depend on goodwill of the pharmacist, but in these Covid times they really should help ]

[gingejbee]

I suppose this is a "special" sort of rubbish that your local authority has contracted Essentia to collect...so, yes, I'd contact the relevant council dept.
Perhaps your GP surgery/health centre may have another idea.

[Buenchico]

I was self-injecting during my chemotherapy last year and I had no problem returning my used sharps bin to the hospital. Perhaps the diabetic clinic (or the pharmacy?) at your local hospital might be able to accept the bin? Even if they can't, a phone call to the diabetic clinic (or perhaps to your local community pharmacy, or to your GP's surgery) might yield the information that you're seeking.

The NHS website says "If you have a medical condition, such as diabetes, and use needles at home, your local council may be responsible for collecting your full sharps bin.

You can find out more from your local council's website. Local councils can charge for this service, but most do not"
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/accidents-first-aid-and-treatments/how-should-i-dispose-of-used-needles-or-sharps/

So perhaps it might be worth asking your local council?

[Canary42]

This is typical of the sort of thing which occurs when Public Services are Privatised. Profits before people, wealth before health.

[barry1010]

I had mine in at my gp surgery and they give me a new one

[Vagus]

A relative was told to put them in an empty bleach bottle, screw the child proof lid on and put into the ordinary waste bin.
Bleach bottles are hard plastic, you can’t see through them, and they have a child proof lid. Ordinary water bottles are not suitable.
I don’t know if this is still recommended.

[bobbie22]

I get mine delivered and collected by my local council

[lankeela]

I use a small sharps bin for the needles used to insert microchips, and I take the full bin to the local pharmacy who empty it into their main bin for me.

[bednobs]

i find the situation utterly ridiculous. I have two full sharps bins that were from when i was pregnant in 2016/17. GP surgery won't take them as they did not dispense then (hospital did) The maternity hospital is 40 miles round trip, and i have no need to go there. council wont take them

[AuntPollyGrey]

I get my medication delivered by Healthcare at Home and they collect all the sharps bins. I've never had any problems all the way through the Pandemic. I know this doesn't help you, but who actually supplies your medication, or more importantly, your sharps bins??

[Patsy33]

This is soo bad. You have enough to worry about, I'm sure.
Ring your GP's surgery, to see if they can be more helpful.

[AuntPollyGrey]

GP's won't take them as they don't dispense the medication.

[Mamyalynne]

Chessington, who initially put you onto Essentia?

Contact them and explain they are no longer fulfilling their purpose.

[barry1010]

Not all GPs are the same, APG

[Eve]

Healthcare at Home tend to take sharps bins when delivering medication. The couriers for the home care team who delivered my injections previously wouldn't, I had to arrange a specific collection. They used couriers for medication deliveries who delivered other stuff though, as I found once when they mixed up their packages and I got a box of some DIY stuff.

Do you see a diabetes team at the hospital, or diabetes nurse at your GP surgery? They might be able to help or advise, especially if you aren't the only one that has been having this issue.

[chessington]

Thanks all of you, much appreciated info, I have another date from Essentia 15th April, as it is about the 5th date now, I wont hold my breath, the chemist who deliver my medications is where my daughter works and she organized a 1Litre bin for me which is good, my 4 litre bin is still full on my doorstep where it has been for some time now, Essentia are meant to be part of the council who have been taking my bin and swapping it for years now, for some reason they not doing it but say they will!!!! My original diabetic nurse organized them when I got my diagnosis back in the day, she has retired now and when I phoned GP surgery, the receptionist had no idea what to do about it and when I rang a council number for environmental health it just rings and same message in a loop, no pick up or allowed to leave message at all, feel like banging my head against a wall right now, but thanks for all replies.