Question For Diabetics

[naomi24]

Where and how do you dispose of your 'sharps'?

[Redhelen72]

My friend puts her 'pens' in the normal waste with the lid screwed on and wrapped in paper

[mallyh]

our  council here supply yellow sharps  boxes and collects when full 

[naomi24]

I think these sharps are not needles used for injections, but what's used to test blood sugar.  Sorry, I don't really know much about it.  Asking for a friend - as 'they' say - but I really am.

[naomi24]

Are they free, mally, of do you pay for them?

[mallyh]

naomi they are free we just ring them when its full x

[mallyh]

they swap one for one ,dont close them until they are full as you can't open them again x

[THECORBYLOON]

This is from the NHS,

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/accidents-first-aid-and-treatments/how-should-i-dispose-of-used-needles-or-sharps/

 

'Using your sharps bin

You can use your sharps bin to dispose of medical supplies such as:

needles

syringes

lancets used with finger-pricking devices

clippers

Put needles or similar medical supplies into the sharps bin immediately after using them and do not try to take them out again. Only fill the bin to where it says "Do not fill above this line".

Keep your sharps bin in a safe place so it's not a risk to other people and is out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposing of your full sharps bin

Arrangements for disposing of full sharps bins vary depending where you live.

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.'

 

 

[naomi24]

Just checked the local council website and they provide and collect the bins - and say that sharps should never be disposed of in normal household waste.  I'll tell my friend - and thanks so much all for your help everyone.   Another satisfied customer.  :o)

[choux]

I have to administer regular injections to OH, prescribed by the hospital consultant and delivered by a specialist firm, this is cheaper than being supplied by the NHS apparently. They phone to check how many pre-filled syringes we have in the fridge and give us a date and time they will deliver. They always ask if we need a new sharps bin. With these particular injections the needle retracts into the body of the syringe after use. It is an excellent service.

[douglas9401]

Roche say that the lancets (finger prick cartridges) can be disposed of safely in household waste.

Needles/pens should be placed in a sharps bin and returned from whence it came for a replacement.

[evadora]

I have a daily injection and put my needle, and pre-filled pen into a yellow sharps box which is provided every month with my monthly prescription. When I collect the prescription I hand over the used Sharps box.  No problems.

[Mozz71]

I'm like Mally. All my disposables, both needles and blood sugar paraphernalia, go in the sharps box. It usually lasts me about three weeks, then you make a booking on your council page, and they pick up the sealed box and leave you an empty.

[barry1010]

My lancets aren't cartridges and leave a sharp exposed - I get a sharps bin to dispose of them

[THECORBYLOON]

DOUG, the bit I seen on the Roche website had,

"Used lancet drums can be disposed of in household waste (unless other regulations apply locally)"

[gylly]

Ask whoever prescribed the sharps, as how they are disposed of depends on where you live.

[douglas9401]

Indeed, TCL, but they don't apply locally to me so in the bin they go.

 

[THECORBYLOON]

That's fine for your area but I'm just pointing out it might not be the case in other areas.

[douglas9401]

Thanks for that, when I live in another area I'll be sure to check.

[wiltsman]

I'm lucky in that I've recently been told I'm now free of Type 2 Diabetes .... Yippee.

I now need to dispose of my Sharps. My local pharmacy would not take them, so I brought them back home. That's where they have remained, but Noami's question reminds me I need to do something about disposing them.

I know they should not be put in with normal waste, however well wrapped, so tomorrow I'll ring the local council and see if they can help me discard them responsibly.

[naomi24]

That council's website says no sharps or other clinical waste should go into household waste. Thanks again for your help.