A Europe without needlestick injuries

A Europe without needlestick injuries

The Employment, Social Policy, Healthcare and Consumer Council agreed on the proposal for an EU Directive implementing the Framework Agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector concluded by HOSPEEM and EPSU (COM (2009) 0577). There was unanimous political agreement around the table and the Directive will be formally voted on at a future Council meeting.

Since its very inception, the EFN has been advocating for the introduction of pan-European binding measures for the protection of both healthcare workers and patients from needlestick and other medical sharps injuries. The EFN is therefore very positive that the agreement between the social partners will be implemented in the proposed EU Directive.

As a concrete follow-up, the EFN Spanish member, Spanish General Council of Nursing, is organising an EU Summit on this topic on 1-2 June 2010, supported by the Spanish EU Presidency, focusing specifically on the way to implement the Directive at national, regional and local level. EFN sees this opportunity to start the implementation process all over Europe as very important, as this Directive will be a cornerstone in bringing down the 1.2 million needlestick injuries healthcare staff suffers from in Europe.

Please contact Mr. Paul de Raeve, Secretary General of the European Federation of Nurses Associations for more information.

 Email: efn@efn.be
 Tel: +32 2 512 74 19 - Web: www.efnweb.eu

Further information:

 Proposal EU Directive implementing the Framework Agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector concluded by HOSPEEM and EPSU (COM (2009) 0577)

 Sharps Injuries – Stepping Up to the Challenge in Europe (Paul De Raeve, 2010);

 EFN Policy & Position Statement on Sharps Injuries

 EFN Awareness Campaign European Parliament (2004)

 EFN-ICN Joint Statement “Nurses Call for EU Action Aimed at Safer Needle Devices” (2004);

 Spanish General Council of Nursing.