RCN campaigning shapes sharps agreement

Published: 17 July 2009

An European-wide agreement between employers and trade unions to provide health care staff with better protection from needlestick injuries has today been signed in Brussels. This follows six months of negotiations and allows for European-wide measures to tackle the issue of injuries from sharps.

The agreement, between the European Federation of Public Service Unions and the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers Association, is designed to help prevent up to one million medical sharps injuries to European health care workers each year. It follows vigorous campaigning by the RCN. For example, in the North West region where nurses highlighted the issue during a 'Question Time'-style event with European election candidates ahead of the polls in June and a parliamentary reception in November where MPs heard the first hand experiences of a member who had suffered a sharps injury.

Welcoming the agreement, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Peter Carter said:

'With needlestick injuries affecting nearly half of all nurses in the UK, we are delighted that an agreement between EU employers and trade unions has now been reached to provide nurses with better protection. The RCN has campaigned tirelessly for the Government to end the stress, trauma and sometimes lethal consequences of these accidents".

The European Social Partners will ask the European Commission to present this agreement to the Council of Ministers to implement it through an EU directive.

The RCN looks forward to working closely with regulators and other key stakeholders to ensure that the agreement and subsequent legislation is implemented fully across areas where our members work. The RCN also acknowledges the efforts of Members of the European Parliament who have worked tirelessly to keep this issue high on the European agenda.