Sharps box

[Maggie55]

Took my sharps box to my local pharmacy yesterday, to be informed that they no longer accept them. They said I have to take it to a needle exchange unit the nearest one to me is 3 bus rides away and because of bus timings it will be 2hrs there and back. Apart from the fact I will be walking into a drug addiction unit I don't want to be seen walking into that environment. The added embarrassment of having to explain if seen doesn't bear thinking about. Anyone got any ideas.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.
Unfortunately differnt parts of country the system is different. Though I don't think I have heard of taking to a needle exchange before. I have read someone post there council wanted to charge them for collection.

 

[Robin]

This is a problem that crops up on here from time to time, and it seems to be that arrangements vary from place to place. The bottom line is, I think, that your local council has ultimate responsibility, so maybe give them a call/email them and ask where your nearest facility now is, and if it's somewhere you can't get to, they may have to arrange to collect from your home.

 

[Maggie55]

Thanks guys will email local council.

 

[zx10pilot]

My local council collect mine from my door, but I had to register with them first and jump through a few hoops:
In their words "Before we can provide you with this service we will require you to complete a Clinical Waste Referral Form which must be signed be yourself and your doctor or health professional and then returned to us."
But once that's done I simply phone them up and they collect.
Good luck
zx

 

[pav]

In my area my GP practices accept them and issue new ones (my last 3 GP practices have all done this), could be worth asking yours or try a different pharmacy.