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Thompsons Scotland speak to BBC Good Morning Scotland on the Introduction of Safety Needles.31/03/05The following is an extract of Radio interview from the BBC Scotland definitive morning news programme Good Morning Scotland Friday 25th March 2005 edition.
Ken MacDonald, Presenter
It?s about five years since the Scottish Health Service set up a working party to look at the introduction of safety syringes. These are the syringes where the needle retracts after the injection?s given and it makes them much safer and reduces the possibility of those needle-stick injuries. But, the working party concluded that safety syringes couldn?t be introduced because it would cost too much. Well, the health union Unison says that?s all about to change because they?ve won a legal test case. Here?s our investigations correspondent, Bob Wylie.
John Clement, Paramedic
I mean, I was obviously worried. I knew that, you know, the lady in question was a drug user so these things do go through your minds ? HIV, Hep C.
Bob Wylie, Reporter
That?s John Clement. He works as a paramedic with the Scottish Ambulance Service. A few years ago he was called to a high-rise flat in Edinburgh to deal with a woman who?d taken a drug overdose.
John Clement
I went in and the young lady was unconscious, wasn?t breathing, heart wasn?t beating so we had to give her adrenalin, you know, to get her heart going again. As a consequence?because it was an uncontrolled environment, very tight for space, I got jabbed by a needle.
Bob Wylie
That started a long time of trauma, particularly since John was due to be married in a matter of months. His wife Heather remembers how the spectre of HIV infection or Hepatitis hung over them.
Heather Clement
It was as if our whole world had collapsed roundabout us, you know. We were in the process of arranging our wedding, we were getting married in the summer and we had this hanging over us, you know. I was obviously very upset, angry as well, because to think that there are these safe needles available and, you know, because of the cost that the NHS Trust isn?t using them and still isn?t using them.
Bob Wylie
That might be about to change. Until now the Scottish NHS has ruled out introducing safety syringes on cost grounds but last year Unison took John Clement?s case to the Court of Session. Three Appeal judges ruled that the NHS couldn?t refuse to introduce safety syringes on cost grounds alone. They said that breached employment and safety laws. Negotiations around the test case were finally concluded in John Clement?s favour recently. According to the union?s solicitor, Patrick Maguire of Thomson?s, a vital precedent has been established.
Patrick Maguire, Solicitor
Well, what it means is that for every day that the NHS don?t introduce safer needles they?re in breach of National Law and in breach of European Law. And although that?s bad enough for a normal worker and for a normal employer it?s simply unforgivable when we?re dealing with the State and the Scottish Executive.
Bob Wylie
What if the Scottish Executive actually just said well we realise all that but we can?t afford it so we?re not doing it?
Patrick Maguire
Well, they?re in breach of their duties and there is no excuse any longer. They have to do something about it. It?s that simple.
Bob Wylie
The test case involved the union challenging the Scottish Ambulance Service, John Clement?s employers, but Unison official, Jim Devine, argues that the precedent set involves all health service workers.
Jim Devine, Union Representative
Every Health Board in Scotland will have to take on board the implications of this decision which is, quite frankly, that they have to discard the old style needles and introduce safety needles right throughout the Scottish Health Service.
Bob Wylie
So, the new Health Minister, Andy Kerr, has to sort out a potential poison chalice left him by his predecessor, Susan Deacon and Malcolm Chisholm. Mister Kerr?s not giving hospitals a fortune but is ready to set up a review of what?s to be done and when it?s to be done.
Andy Kerr, Health Minister
As ever in life it?s not as simple as it may seem because some of the pilot reviews that we?ve tried to use in the past really haven?t worked very well and I also think there?s certain locations where I think we need to consider the introduction therefore I want to get a review of this to ensure that we are protecting our staff which is absolutely vital for myself, and clearly we want to respond to their concerns but also ensure that we continue with good clinical services as well.
Bob Wylie
So, the time could be coming when John Clement goes on shift with a little more peace of mind created by safety syringes.
John Clement
I think it?s long overdue. There has been needles used in England for some time now so I don?t see why, you know, we can?t have them up here. I don?t see a problem in that.
Ken MacDonald
That was Bob Wylie?s report.
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