Human waste to be put in the bin

HUMAN waste is being dumped in household bins and taken away by council workers because of changes to an NHS service.

Concerns have been raised about the spread of diseases as vulnerable residents and their families are left to dispose of items like colostomy bags in council bins – and then ensure they are washed.

It follows a review of medical waste collection currently carried out by West Midlands Ambulance Service for the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust.

Items which were being disposed of as clinical waste, which the NHS has to collect, will now be treated as medical waste – which places responsibility for collection with the local council.

Wow look at this!!!

Hylands Ltd & Panasonic Store

View details

Print voucher

8kg 1400 spin A+++ rated washer
with a full 6 year warranty - yes SIX years
delivered FAST & FREE
was OVER £600 - For a limited time ONLY £449.90
Amazing value!!!

Terms: 8kg 1400 spin A+++ rated washer
with a full 6 year warranty - yes SIX years
delivered FAST & FREE
was OVER £600 - For a limited time ONLY £449.90
Amazing value!!!

Contact: 01782 342609

Valid until: Saturday, June 01 2013

The NHS will continue to provide a collection service for hazardous clinical waste like blood, syringes and infectious material.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is offering to provide an extra bin, or a bigger bin, if residents believe they will need extra space.

Council bin collectors are understood to have been given additional health and safety training.

The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership Trust has written to residents affected by the changes, asking them to place the waste products in carrier bags.

One affected resident, who asked not to be named, said: "It isn't them who is going to have this sort of waste sitting outside their house for up to 14 days.

"It will expose people to comments from their neighbours and if this stuff isn't disposed of properly it could be a health threat to the binmen and the residents themselves.

"If people are given extra bins or bigger bins it is going to be an invasion of people's privacy when their neighbours are told it's for medical reasons."

A council spokesman said: "We are not duty bound to remove clinical or dangerous waste for the NHS or PCT – this is their duty.

"What has been agreed is that non-hazardous waste, while unpleasant, will be collected along with normal rubbish.

"If people are finding that their level of rubbish is increasing due to the extra waste we will provide a larger bin."

A spokesman for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust, said: "This decision was reached following advice sought from infection control and public health departments.

"People using continence products and colostomy bags are requested to empty the contents into the toilet, place the used products in a tied plastic bag and dispose of them in with their general household waste.

"The trust will offer advice and support to people with regard to how to dispose of the products or how to obtain a larger waste collection bin.

"They will also advise on the assisted collection service in cases where people have difficulty in manoeuvring the larger bins."