WORLD AIDS DAY HIGHLIGHTS NEED TO PROTECT TO PROTECT HEALTHCARE WORKERS

12.00.00am GMT Fri 30th Nov 2007

On World Aids Day, the Royal College of Nursing and Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne are calling on the European Commission and individual Member States to tackle the issue of needlestick injuries at work.

Liz Lynne MEP said:

"It is estimated that 1 million such injuries occur in Europe each year, many of which are avoidable and cause untold misery for our front line health workers. They must be better protected.

"It is not acceptable that health workers are put in danger when such injuries could easily be prevented. The number of people with HIV and Hepatitis C is growing rapidly and many are unaware they are infected.

"Existing Guidance has not proved effective; the European Commission must act to provide legislative protection for workers exposed to the risk of HIV infection."

Dr. Peter Carter, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said:

"It is clear that exposure to blood borne infections from needlestick injuries is a serious risk faced by a significant number of healthcare workers in their daily lives.

"Whilst there is good guidance available on the prevention of needlestick injuries, the absence of a firm legislative framework means that guidance is inconsistently applied.

"The RCN has called for the introduction of such legislation at an EU level for some time, and today, we reiterate that call to make the prevention of needlestick injuries a priority, by putting it on the statute books."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has been campaigning for better protection for health workers from needlestick injuries, known more commonly as sharps injuries.

The significant occupational risks faced by healthcare workers from contaminated needles was brought to the attention of the European Commission more than four years ago. Liz Lynne has since met with Commissioner Spidla, who is the Commissioner responsible for Health and Safety at work and written to both Commissioner Spidla and President Barroso asking for an amendment to the Biological Agents directive 2000/54/EC to include legislative provisions for Healthcare workers.

AIDS has orphaned 15 million children. In 2006 alone, it killed an estimated 380,000 children under the age of 15.