Sharps return requests at community pharmacies
Written by admin on Friday 5th February 2021
What should you do?
CPSC have been getting regular queries from contractors about what to do with sharps that are produced, but not associated with a commissioned, or private, pharmacy service.
Due to lack of knowledge, some pharmacies have been paying to have such sharps disposed of when they have accepted them back from patients inappropriately, thinking they are doing the right thing. This is definitely an expense that pharmacies should be avoiding!
Action:
Unless there is a locally commissioned service, pharmacies should not accept these returns and should definitely not be paying for them to be collected by a waste collection contract.
The procedure to be followed depends upon where your pharmacy is located:
On the whole it is the councils’ responsibility for collecting such sharps. Details vary by location, but are explained fully on the relevant Council websites:
- Southampton City Council
- Portsmouth City Council
- Hampshire County Council - responsibility lies with each individual District Council
- i.e. Winchester District Council
- etc for other District Councils in Hampshire...
The one difference is on the Isle of Wight, where sharps boxes are made available to pharmacies free of charge and are then collected free of charge. People on the island are therefore encouraged to bring their sharps waste to the community pharmacy for disposal.