The NeedleDock system allows full use of container space for used needles only, resulting in significant cost savings over conventional sharps bins.
Conventional sharp bins commonly contain only a small proportion of clinical waste. Much of the content of these bins will be paper, packaging, board, plastics, tubes which does not require expensive high temperature incineration.
With NeedleDock, you can’t put the syringe in the container so the segregation is forced and the capacity is optimised, meaning less units are required. Non sharps waste can be disposed of via cheaper methods, such as bagged clinical waste which costs a fraction of the cost of sharps bins.
Although staff could segregate the needle from the syringe with the conventional bins, they don’t necessarily realise the high cost of the waste going into sharps bins and the design of traditional bins makes it too easy to dispose of everything. NeedleDock’s forced segregation removes the responsibility and risk from the staff to do so and cost savings are automatically made.
In addition to the direct cost savings for organisations, further money can be saved from potential indirect costs, including people hours lost due to staff sickness resulting from time off with injuries and contamination, and litigation costs arising from needlestick injury claims.
Commercial impact is a significant consideration as litigation payouts are increasing year on year. NHS Resolution addressed 1,833 legal claims between 2012 and 2017; settling 1200 of these claims cost the NHS more than £4,000,000 in compensation.
Not only are litigation cases expensive as result of staff time spent dealing with cases and increased insurance premiums, they are also extremely stressful for those concerned and potentially damaging for public relations.
