§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many settlements the NHS has made for needlestick injuries; how many of these cases were settled out of court; and what the total value of cases settled was in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [152075]
244W(2) how many needlestick injuries have been reported in the NHS; what the estimated figure including unreported needlestick injuries is; what proportion of those reporting injuries developed a blood borne infectious disease; and how many of these developed (a) hepatitis and (b) HIV in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [152072]
(3) how many days have been lost by NHS staff that have suffered a needlestick injury; and what the cost to the service was in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [152076]
(4) if he will list the 10 NHS trusts with the (a) highest and (b) lowest rate of needlestick injuries, indicating how many in (b) use safer needles; [152073]
(5) how many NHS staff are recorded as having lost time off work following a needlestick injury due to anxiety and stress in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [152077]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answers 6 March 2001]: Data on needlestick injuries to National Health Service staff and any absence resulting from such injuries, are not collected centrally unless the incident involves the risk of transmission of a blood borne virus. Information on needlestick injuries would be reflected in incident reports held locally by individual NHS employers.
Data collected as part of the National Surveillance of Occupational Exposure to Blood Borne Viruses in Health Care Workers between July 1997 and December 2000 indicated that 1,044 NHS staff were exposed to blood borne viruses during this period.