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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that DP should be able to get a hepatitis B vaccine somewhere?

66 replies

caddywally · 21/09/2017 19:29

DP works somewhere that often has a fair few homeless people hanging around, and as some of these people have drug problems, it's not uncommon to see needles etc. left lying around. Last night he stepped on a bloody needle and it went through his shoe and into his foot. In case there was a chance he could've contracted a disease (though hopefully this is unlikely) he went straight to A&E.

He spent about 5 hours in A&E and eventually the doctor took some blood and advised him to get a hepatitis B vaccine, though advised him that he'd have to get it done at the GP surgery as soon as possible as A&E didn't have any hep b vaccines available. He called the GP this morning and they told him to go back to A&E. He called A&E and explained the situation and they said that they were unable to order any in, but the GP would be able to. He went to the GP this afternoon and showed the note from the doctor advising that the GP vaccinates him, but they said they can't order in the vaccine and told him to go back to A&E.

Can anyone who works in healthcare (or anyone else!) shed some light on this? Is this normal? I know it's unlikely that he was infected, but if a few months down the line it turns out he is infected because nobody could decide who should give him the vaccine, I'll be very upset.

OP posts:
Original poster
caddywally · 21/09/2017 20:22

Nestofvipers Yes - I did say that I realise they were probably doing as they'd been instructed and they weren't being difficult on purpose.

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 21/09/2017 20:22

If he is desperate he could go to a travel clinic, say he is going to Namibia or similar and just pay for it.

Nestofvipers · 21/09/2017 20:25

Nestofvipers It's public sector so I'd have hoped they'd be pretty clued up about this stuff, but he wasn't offered any vaccinations when he started the job

That's the fault of his employer and he should take this up with them. If his employer tells him to see his GP, he needs to tell them that this advice is wrong and it is their responsibility to sort it. The link on my first post makes it very clear that it is employer's responsibility and not his GPs. Unfortunately a lot of employers are not as clued up about these things as they should be and try to pass the buck to the GP, which then ends with people taking their dissatisfaction out on the GP when they should actually be taking it out on their employer.

Original poster
caddywally · 21/09/2017 20:25

endofthelinefinally I think chatting to his boss tomorrow and asking to be put in contact with occupational health might be the best bet, then. They should know about this stuff, shouldn't they?

OP posts:
Original poster
caddywally · 21/09/2017 20:28

Nestofvipers Maybe I'm naive, but for some reason I assumed that the council would be one of the best employers in terms of issues like this. Perhaps risks haven't been properly assessed.

OP posts:
dertyyuoih2 · 21/09/2017 20:29

They are short of the booster at the moment so probably same goes for the vaccine. I am overdue my booster, my OHU have said none available at the moment (this was August) so probably same for the vaccine

Nestofvipers · 21/09/2017 20:31

You'd like to think so wouldn't you? Sorry this isn't the case.

I think the plan of chatting to his boss and asking to be put in contact with OH would be the best plan. Good luck!

CPtart · 21/09/2017 20:32

Sorry I misread the OP slightly. Agree with vipers. OCcupational Hep B is the responsibility of the employer. Nothing to do with the GP. There is more to the prevention of Hep B in occupational circumstances than sticking a few needles in., it needs assessment and advice by appropriately trained people, i.e., An occupational health not a practice nurse.
He really needs to check his tetanus status too. He will surely have had his childhood ones and on leaving school. This info the GP surgery can help with.

knottybeams · 21/09/2017 20:36

There is virtually none around at the moment. Nothing your GP surgery can do about it. It's being issued on a named patient basis right now with priority given to the highest risk groups (eg newborn of hep b pos mum) first. I'd have thought an injury like that would be fairly high up the list, but still a struggle to get hold of it. Has he had an appointment to speak to gp about it, or just tried to book via reception? They will probably have a protocol based on occasions health and travel requests which are way down the queue.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 21/09/2017 20:36

This is post-exposure vaccination though, not employment related vaccination, so A&E should be able to help.

FWIW, I'm NHS staff working in a university complex and one of the uni contractors had a needle stick injury in exactly the circumstances you describe. We sent him over to A&E who patched him up and gave him a Hep B vaccination following their needle stick policy.

If your DH can't get past the GP's receptionist, go back to A&E.

knottybeams · 21/09/2017 20:37

Treading on a needle outside work doesn't really come under occy health

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 21/09/2017 20:38

Meant to add that the shortage will be a problem but there are some alternatives available for those who need them.

CPtart · 21/09/2017 20:45

Knotty- yes the protocol is refer back to A&E. Its in black and white. For those where specialists have requested immunisation, i.e., kidney disease, we have to refer back to secondary care. Don't bother wasting time waiting to see the GP, they won't have a clue.

Daisymay2 · 21/09/2017 20:45

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/636079/Hepb_vaccine_advice_for_patients.pdf

As it is post expossure (not a travel vaccine) a&e should be able to help, at least with the first dose and you should not have to pay privately.however Hep B and Hep A have been a nightmare for months. Ring hospital pharmacy and ask if they can get it.

Bugsylugs · 21/09/2017 20:54

Nestofvipers is obviously right. How ironic if he works for council has public health are part of their service so can risk assess this.
The vaccine won't protect him from this injury there should have been a full risk assessment when he went to hospital to see if he needed immunoglobulin and other prophylaxis with regards to risk of infection.

The point to Hep B vaccine is to protect from future risk injuries.

Amara123 · 21/09/2017 20:59

Call your local health protection team (public health England). They should be able to point him in the right direction.

Nestofvipers · 21/09/2017 21:03

Treading on a needle outside work doesn't really come under occy health
The emergency management might not, but giving the full course of vaccines does.
www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2557.aspx?CategoryID=72

I read the op as her partner had the needle stick injury (stepped on the needle) whilst at work.

Original poster
caddywally · 21/09/2017 21:06

Sorry if my post wasn't very clear! Nestofvipers is right - he stepped on the needle whilst at work.

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 21/09/2017 21:12

Actually, if he has had an accident or injury putting him at rusk of infection A and E should have dealt with it there and then, as well as putting him in touch with whoever is appropriate to follow up according to local policy.
I had not realised he had a needlestick injury.
He probably needs legal advice.
Is he in a union?

Didntcomeheretofuckspiders · 21/09/2017 21:15

There is a global shortage. You'll be lucky to find one even privately.

Original poster
caddywally · 21/09/2017 21:16

endofthelinefinally I think A&E dealt with it as much as they could. They took some blood for blood tests (though I'm not sure how quickly these things show up in your blood) and examined the area, but when it came down to the vaccination part they were unable to help as they didn't have it in stock and aren't ordering any more in. He's not in a union, no.

OP posts:
mumstaxi2 · 21/09/2017 21:19

Definitely phone around travel clinics. My DS had first combined Hep A & B today - having only phoned them yesterday for appointment. We were sent there by our GP surgery - also tried Superdrug clinics but they did have any in stock.

Kailoer · 21/09/2017 21:21

Op I'm not trying to be harsh Iman already stressful situation but you need to urge your DP to mandate his employer steps up to their duty of care here

Either it gets resolved tomorrow through occupational health (all guaranteed and arranged) OR your DH will go to a private travel clinic and expense the cost back

Your DH needs to frame it as "look, you can see what I've tried in a personal capacity, but it's ultimately a duty of care problem, you need to have my back here Boss".

Your DH's employer can't just leave it to him and wash their hands of responsibility here!

By skirting around the real issue here you're enabling them to skirt it the next time something similar happens!

mumstaxi2 · 21/09/2017 21:22

Also would certainly be questioning the safety arrangements in any workplace where its not uncommon to see used needles left around...

HelloMama · 21/09/2017 21:30

Sexual health clinics also have virtually no supplies of Hep b vaccines. They are also only funded to provide hepatitis b vaccinations to those at sexual risk, so I'm afraid under those circumstances, he'd be sent back to the GP.

The good news is that Hep b vaccination after needlestick injury will provide prophylactic protection against Hep b up to 5-6 weeks post risk, so it's not something that is urgently needed within days.