NHS Cancer Nurses Exposed to Hazardous Drugs With Current PPE, Investigation Finds

NHS cancer nurses have been exposed to toxic chemicals linked to miscarriage and infertility due to inadequate PPE, a joint investigation by The Independent and Channel 4 News revealed. Nurses reported receiving only a standard plastic apron and gloves as PPE when handling hazardous drugs. The article was published on Thursday.

The investigation found that nurses who came into contact with hazardous compounds suffered recurrent miscarriages. Nurses also reported suffering hair loss, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue after contact with the compounds. Studies have substantiated fears about hazardous drugs inducing infertility.

The NHS West Midlands Cancer Alliance published guidance warning that inadequate control measures could lead to miscarriage, birth defects, liver damage, abnormal cell formations, abdominal pain, nasal sores and vomiting. The American CDC has issued an alert about how hazardous substances can adversely affect the health of nurses.

National guidelines permit NHS trusts to provide only a plastic apron and gloves as the bare minimum PPE.

One study suggests closed system transfer devices are used in only about half of cases. NHS trusts have a duty in law to protect staff from exposure to hazardous medicinal products. Current regulations require employers to ensure exposure to hazardous drugs is as low as reasonably practical.

The Royal College of Nursing wants the regulation changed to require exposure at the lowest possible level. Wes Streeting is the secretary of state for health and social care. The Independent reported that for decades many thousands of healthcare workers have administered drugs used in cancer chemotherapy, for rheumatoid arthritis, HIV and multiple sclerosis, with known toxic chemicals involved.

The life-altering price paid by workers affected by infertility is beyond quantifying while the cost of better PPE is well within the resources of even the most hard-pressed trust, The Independent reported. The Independent reported that NHS trusts should be using closed system transfer devices, sealed and leak-proof devices for the drugs used in chemotherapy to help reduce exposure during transportation, preparation and administration.

It is beyond belief that this state of affairs is allowed to persist given the legal duty of care, according to the investigation.