A first-of-its-kind campaign to protect pharmacists and other healthcare workers from exposure to hazardous medical products (HMPs) has been launched by the Safer Healthcare and Biosafety Network (SHBN).
Launched in the House of Commons, the ‘Protecting Healthcare Workers: Safer Handling of Hazardous Medicinal Products campaign’ aims to raise awareness of the dangers of occupational exposure to HMPs and is supported by the NHS, British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA), Pharmaceutical Aseptic Services Group (PASG) and other healthcare bodies.
HMPs, such as cytotoxic agents, antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, immunosuppressants, hormones and certain antibiotics, are widely used across healthcare, most notably in cancer treatment, but also in the management of conditions such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, HIV and organ transplantation.
The SHBN has warned that HMPs pose ‘recognised health risks’ to the healthcare professionals who handle them, including pharmacists, nurses and a large range of ancillary staff involved in their preparation, administration and disposal, due to ‘unintentional exposure’.
It adds that HMPs are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances and long-term occupational exposure has been associated with symptoms like headaches, nausea and respiratory issues, and even more severe health effects like infertility, miscarriage and increased cancer risk.
Calls for stronger safety standards for HMPs
Despite these risks, the UK currently has no formal definition of HMPs, no nationally recognised list of such medicines, and no standardised, mandatory training or guidance for staff on how to handle them.
The Protecting Healthcare Workers campaign calls for stronger safety standards, better training and increased awareness to protect healthcare workers and ensure safer care for patients. This includes the adoption of a statutory definition and a national list of HMPs.
Other key priorities include mandating the use of closed system transfer devices (CSTDs) and other engineering controls wherever exposure risk exists, routine environmental monitoring and the use of exposure registers, and reforming the current ‘as low as reasonably practicable’ (ALARP) standard under the current Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations to require exposure to be reduced to the lowest possible level.
Commenting on the launch, SHBN chairman Dr Paul Grime said: ‘The UK is long overdue a coherent national framework for the safe handling of HMPs. We are proud to launch the UK’s first dedicated campaign focused on protecting healthcare staff from the risks of occupational exposure to HMPs.
‘It is hugely concerning that medicines designed to save patients’ lives can, through insufficient systems and inconsistent safeguards, cause avoidable harm to the professionals who handle them every day.
‘Our goal is to ensure there is clear national legislation that defines HMPs handling standards to ensure all staff who may be exposed are properly trained and adequately protected.
‘The routine use of closed-system handling, including the use of CSTDs and systematic exposure monitoring should not be optional. The UK must align with international best practice and ensure that healthcare workers receive the same level of protection as their counterparts in Europe and the United States.’
‘Pharmacy staff are left to interpretation’
Joseph Williams, vice chair of the British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA), said: ‘Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and the aseptic pharmacy workforce are at the very front line of preparing, handling and disposing of HMPs, particularly systemic anti-cancer therapies, yet the evidence base surrounding occupational exposure risks and the effectiveness of control measures remains inconsistent across organisations.
‘Without clear informed national guidance, pharmacy staff are left to interpretation as to what is zero exposure.
‘BOPA recognises the need for clearer evidence-informed guidance and national dialogue on the safe handling of hazardous medicinal products. We are delighted to support the launch of this SHBN campaign, which brings much-needed national attention to the risks faced by pharmacy staff and our healthcare peers.’
‘An important first step in the right direction’
The HMPs safety campaign was formally launched at the House of Commons by Luke Akehurst MP, who represents North Durham for Labour.
He said: ‘It is my honour to be the first member of parliament to formally raise the issue of unintentional occupational exposure to hazardous medicinal products for healthcare workers in the House of Commons.
‘Today across the UK healthcare workers are being exposed to toxic substances, often without knowing it, despite protections existing.
‘The launch of Safer Healthcare Biosafety Network’s HMP Safety campaign, the UK’s first dedicated campaign focused on preventing occupational exposure to HMPs for all healthcare workers, is an important first step in the right direction.’
He added: ‘The risk of exposure to HMPs is detrimental to the lives of those who care for us, and we must ensure that when NHS healthcare workers and private practitioners care for patients, they are not putting their own health on the line.’
This follows the publication of a joint pharmacy workforce position statement from BOPA and the PSAG in November on the Safer Handling of Hazardous SACT Drugs.
