{"id":2415,"date":"2013-04-11T14:26:47","date_gmt":"2013-04-11T14:26:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.medic8.com\/news\/?p=2415"},"modified":"2013-04-11T14:26:47","modified_gmt":"2013-04-11T14:26:47","slug":"eu-issues-new-health-directive-0257","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medic8.com\/news\/eu-issues-new-health-directive-0257\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Issues New Health Directive-0257"},"content":{"rendered":"

After campaigning hard for a long time, health unions have managed to secure a change in European law.<\/p>\n

For the first time there is now a new directive along with regulations to ensure patients are not harmed by\u00a0needle sticks\u00a0and other sharps implements. This will of course apply to dentists as well as medical staff.<\/p>\n

Although the EU issued the directive in 2010 it only comes into force next month on the 11th<\/sup> May, presumably to allow dentists and others to get ready for the change.<\/p>\n

The UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has previously said that there was sufficient legislation in place to protect patients. However the EU Directive beefs this up, and improves the management of risk control.<\/p>\n

Although both the medical and dental<\/a> professions use syringes as part of their treatment, the implements used are apparently different. Those used by dentists are re-usable which, if blunt can cause a problem for the patient.<\/p>\n

Other dental implements while similar to those used by medics may also pose a risk to patients unless extra care is taken.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the HSE told reporters: \u201cIf a risk assessment reveals a risk of injury, the worker\u2019s exposure must be eliminated.\u201d<\/p>\n

With claims against dentists on the increase, this new Directive will also help protect potentially vulnerable professionals.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After campaigning hard for a long time, health unions have managed to secure a change in European law. For the first time there is now a new directive along with regulations to ensure patients are not harmed by\u00a0needle sticks\u00a0and other sharps implements. This will of course apply to dentists as well as medical staff. Although […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":888008809,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[1672,1669,1670,1671],"class_list":["post-2415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general-health","tag-blunt-needles","tag-eu-health-law-change","tag-hse","tag-patient-protection"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t