The RCN has called on the Government and employers in the NHS to introduce needle policies and invest in safer alternatives to traditional needles to prevent needlestick injuries occurring. The College's comments follow the publication of an RCN report which found that nearly half of all nurses (48%) have been injured by a needle that had previously been used on a patient.

The report, entitled Needlestick Injury in 2008 highlighted the danger which nurses faced whilst carrying out their work, despite the fact that the majority of employer had a needlestick policy in place.