The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Strike looms as hospital porters ‘hurt by needles’
Union chiefs claim safety of staff and patients at Raigmore being put at risk by waste disposal job
PORTERS at the Highland’s biggest hospital are set to down tools today amid fears raised by union chiefs relating to their health and safety in dealing with clinical waste – after claiming four workers recently suffered needle wounds.
GMB Scotland is warning strike action could be imminent after claiming staff are being threatened with disciplinary action if they refuse to undertake the specialist waste disposal job at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. Regional officer Liz Gordon said: “Patients are at risk because the porters are out walking through waste effluent, then they walk back into the hospital with the same shoes and clothing on to get on with their other daily tasks, which includes contact with patients.”
She also claimed some staff had been provided with gardening gloves to handle clinical waste, with some of the items of equipment said to contain traces of the highly contagious Norovirus.
An NHS Highland spokeswoman said: “NHS Highland, like the union, regards the safety of our employees as paramount. Where appropriate protective equipment has been issued.”
The allegations come after NHS Highland, among other health boards, terminated links with North Lanarkshire-based Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) amid rising concerns over the capability of the firm to conduct disposal works.
Union chiefs last night voiced fears for the health and safety of NHS Highland porters handling clinical waste – and threatened to call for strike action after claims workers have suffered needle wounds.
It has also been claimed that porters have been given gardening gloves to handle clinical waste, with the GMB union alleging the waste heaps include remnants of equipment used to treat the highly contagious norovirus.
“We are hearing reports about bad smells and fluid spillage”
The claims come as staff threaten to down tools at Raigmore Hospital today amid revelations that up to four porters have been injured in recent weeks.
GMB Scotland regional officer Liz Gordon said: “We now have had several members who have been injured in the management of NHS waste since the provider lost its contract.
“Reports of 12ft-high waste heaps, fluid spillage and unpleasant smells are coming in.
“I have asked for risk assessment but none have been provided.”
She added: “There has been absolutely no consultation so the GMB will be lodging a grievance on the NHS Highland failure to protect its staff and I will be conducting a consultative ballot to gauge the feeling among the membership.
“Patients are at risk because the porters are out walking through waste effluent, then they walk back into the hospital with the same shoes and clothing on to get on with their other daily tasks ... which includes contact with patients.”
North Lanarkshire-based Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) had held responsibility for clinical waste but NHS Highland is among several boards to cut links amid concerns over the firm’s capability.
An NHS Highland spokeswoman said: “NHS Highland, like the union, regards the safety of our employees as paramount. That is why the whole process has been risk assessed and safe systems of work identified.
“Where appropriate protective equipment has been issued and made available to our porters. NHS Highland believes that those processes when followed should ensure that nobody is at risk.
“As part of our normal procedures the health board is investigating these incidents to find out how these events have occurred and we will take any necessary action to prevent any further incidents from happening.
“We are due to meet with the union next week to address their concerns.”