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Sharps box

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lucy123

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Does anyone know how I get hold of a sharps box?
I tried yesterday but no where would give me one without a prescription - is that right?
 
You can buy them online, but you should also be able to get them on prescription. You also need to know the procedure of disposing of them as it varies according to where you live - some surgeries take them, some don't, same for pharmacies or some councils collect them 🙂
 
Well if you are either a diabetic or a registered drug addict, they are on scrip so it would be unusual for a chemist to have to supply one that someone wants to pay for !

I was just laughing, the most dangerous thing we have in the house is either the carving knife or the surgical scalpel Pete has always had - why? - because he was a lithographic printer amongst other things LOL and you know the expression 'cut and paste' ? Well - it used to be absolutely literal and that's why he always had to have scalpels!
 
I got mine on prescription
 
People can just walk into a shop and buy them if that shop sells them.
My local agricultural shops sell them as farmers have to dispose of sharps in exactly the same way as everyone else as do vets.
 
Lots of on-line pharmacies sell them, I got a very small one for travelling.
But ask your surgery for one, if they prescribe sharps for your use then they should give you a bin.
 
Different in different areas I think. Pharmacies/GPs have no legal obligation re:sharps from what I can make out, but some authorities/areas use them to arrange disposal. In our area is it the local authority (who do have a legal obligation) who arrange everything.

Prob worth asking around/checking your council's website for 'clinical waste' disposal, or asking at your GPs - they should know the system where you live 🙂
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Different in different areas I think. Pharmacies/GPs have no legal obligation re:sharps from what I can make out, but some authorities/areas use them to arrange disposal. In our area is it the local authority (who do have a legal obligation) who arrange everything.

Prob worth asking around/checking your council's website for 'clinical waste' disposal, or asking at your GPs - they should know the system where you live 🙂
Click to expand...

Mike,
Lucy wants a bin, not how to dispose 🙂
 
Yes, but if I asked my GP I expect they would most likely say no. If I bought one and took it to a pharmacy they may well say no. But if I phone the council (in my area) they deliver the bins and collect them for free. That was what I meant really - you need to look into what happens where you live, because different rules seem to apply 🙂
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Yes, but if I asked my GP I expect they would most likely say no. If I bought one and took it to a pharmacy they may well say no. But if I phone the council (in my area) they deliver the bins and collect them for free. That was what I meant really - you need to look into what happens where you live, because different rules seem to apply 🙂
Click to expand...

I was given a bin at the hospital and a phone number for the council for when I had filled it. They come and collect it and leave me another one. Since they give out 5L bins they last me for about 3 years! Possibly even longer now I am down to 3 jabs a day, and this one is lasting longer than the last because I don't put the plastic cap back on and put that in the bin. 🙂
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Yes, but if I asked my GP I expect they would most likely say no. If I bought one and took it to a pharmacy they may well say no. But if I phone the council (in my area) they deliver the bins and collect them for free. That was what I meant really - you need to look into what happens where you live, because different rules seem to apply 🙂
Click to expand...

You're very lucky, and unfortunately I think that you're in a minority as this doesn't happen in a lot of places. As with a lot of things at present, there seems to be a postcode lottery going on. I asked my local authority if they provided this service, and they were quite horrified that I'd even mentioned it. It's all down to cost I'm afraid, because when the local police force is being butchered by the axe swinging politicians, then sharps bin disposal is pretty much bottom of their list of priorities.
 
Really anoys me this.....cost cost cost........i was given a number by my DB nurse, they drop of and collect free of charge...i do not understand why this is not the same across the country? 😡
 
My sharps bin came via prescription from Boots. It was explained to me that the colection service was operated by my local council. So all I do is ring the council when I have full bins. I refuse to ring them for one bin as such a waste of money.
 
Hi all,

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I think I have it sorted now. I have to get a prescription for a sharps box and then take it to a Health centre not too far away when full.

I never even thought about a sharps box when getting prescription - just something else to think about!
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Kwaka1 - this page might give you some pointers/info about sharps disposal: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Monitoring/Blood_glucose/Disposal_of_sharps/

Seems like at the very least you should be able to get a box on prescription, and get your authority to dispose of it?
Click to expand...
Hi Mike,
Thanks for that. I do get bins on prescription, it's just a bugger trying to get rid of them locally. I did say on a previous post that I was thinking of making a sidecar out of them, as they're the same colour as the bike.:D
 
I do not honestly see how in all conscience a PCT can authorise the prescribing of Sharps bins unless there are disposal methods also available. yes they will say it isn't their responsibility; the Council will walk away. So what next?

Involve your local Town Councillor, that's what. If that doesn't work, next one, the Leader of the Council. Next is your MP.


It may be useful to ask/find out how many diabetics there are in your twn - there's enough statistics published to get that info - try the National Diabetes Audit figures - so you can say eg

There are about 20,000 diabetics in Little Pithering. About half of them use either insulin or another injectable drug ..... so that's 10,000 people - many of them elderly, some of them children - that the Council refuses to help and take responsibility for. Do we not all pay our Council Tax, business rates, your expenses, their wages ....

Don't think you need any help on that score really, righteous indignation Rules OK !
 
I get mine on prescription. I have only been getting them since I specifically asked for one two years ago. I used to use an old Coke bottle to store them. When full (about a year) take to DB clinic and they disposed of them. When we go on our foreign holls I use a small water bottle and bring it home in suitcase.
 
Since I moved from Devon it has been much easier as the council deal with it all.
When I lived in Cardiff I could get the bins on prescription but nobody would dispose of them.
 
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