Debate About Important National Motion Regarding Sharps Injuries Among Nurses

[Cath Murphy]

Dear Australian Infection Prevention Colleagues

As many of you may be aware I and others have been long-term advocates for improved sharps safety in Australia. Recently this work has been progressed by the Alliance for Sharps Safety and Needlestick Prevention in Healthcare (http://www.allianceforsharpssafety.org The College is a member of The Alliance. As one of its founding members I was delighted to learn yesterday that Coalition MPs Dr Mal Washer and Judi Moylan have tabled a private member motion in the House of Representatives. A transcript is available on page 59 of the House of Representatives Hansard Report from Wednesday, 19 June 2013.

Most importantly, there will be a debate of the motion on Monday 24 June at 11.00am with an allocation of 90 mins. The debate will take place in the Federation Chamber and proceedings can be viewed live on the Parliament’s website http://www.aph.gov.au/live

This is a significant moment in Australia’s public health and infection control history with potential to address the almost 20,000 estimated sharps injuries that occur in Australia each year through use of safety engineered devices. The proposed motion also highlights Australia’s retrograde position on this issue compared to almost every other nation and continent with mature infection control programs.

Please share this information with any of your peers who may share our concern regarding prevention of occupational injuries. I will keep this group appraised of progress.

Please also note that in an upcoming publication (Murphy, C.L. The serious and ongoing issue of needlestick in AustraliaCnOLhEeGaNlt2h1c1a1re-5 settings. Collegian (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2013.06.003) Australia’s current status in needlestick injury prevention is discussed extensively.

Cathryn Murphy PhD
Executive Director
Infection Control Plus Pty Ltd
http://www.infectioncontrolplus.com.au
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