In the not too distant past medical devices were re-usable. The increasing use of single-use devices has led to the inexorable rise in the volume of clinical waste. But does this need to be the case? We have a quick look at the issues.
Have you ever thought about how much paper we dispose of on a daily basis whilst at work? No, well you should. The other day I was putting a patient on dialysis...
Returning to work on the renal unit after a career break, Mary Thomson was taken aback by the lack of facilitates for segregating waste - 2 different coloured bags - take your pick! She decided to survey colleagues, asking about their recycling practices at home and aiming to find out "what happens to us when we come through the double doors to work"?
Prion risk: where do we draw the line? Millions of nail clippers are incinerated every year across the NHS, as a result of policies to manage the theoretical risk of vCJD, according to Julie Hotchkiss, public health consultant in Wigan.
