What is the needlestick injury protection benefit?
Since pharmacists started to provide influenza vaccinations and more recently with pharmacists delivering Covid vaccinations, the risk of needlestick injury (NSI) has increased dramatically.
NSIs are a recognised occupational hazard for pharmacists, and not just for those delivering vaccination services. These injuries can transmit serious blood-borne viruses (BBVs) such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV, and can have significant physical, psychological, and financial impacts on any person affected. Increasingly, PDA members have been affected by this peril and often, they do not get the support they need from employers to go and get tested properly and this is especially the case if they are a locum.
To address this risk, the PDA has introduced an automatic member benefit at no extra cost. This benefit provides financial support to enable appropriate testing at a recognised testing centre and travel costs to get there following a NSI. Additionally, it provides an additional cash benefit in the event of diagnosis with HIV or hepatitis, loss of limb, or death (associated with the incident).
It is not designed to replace any benefits that pharmacists may already be entitled to as a result of any occupational schemes.
Eligibility
This benefit is available to all PDA members who may have sustained a NSI in the course of their work as a pharmacist or a trainee or even as a student whilst on a clinical placement. The benefit applies irrespective of where they work or whether they are employed or self-employed. It applies if they are not earning any income because they are in a voluntary role or a clinical placement. It acts as a safety net for those who may otherwise be left exposed, particularly those not directly employed by the NHS.
What does the benefit include?
Financial Benefit
The benefits are conditional upon attending a testing centre and being tested.
- Testing and diagnosis:
- £350 per day (up to a maximum of 5 days in one year) for any day on which you attended a testing centre either once or for a series of tests or to receive your results or on which pending your results you are not permitted to work.
- Up to £100 for reasonable travel costs to and from the testing centre.
- Confirmed diagnosis:
- £5,000 if diagnosed with HIV or any form of hepatitis.
- £7,500 if diagnosed with both HIV and hepatitis.
- Loss of limb or organ associated with or resulting from the needlestick injury:
- £15,000 single payment.
- Death associated with or resulting from the needlestick injury:
- £10,000 single payment to your estate.
Legal support
- The arrangements are additionally supported by an introduction of the member to a firm of specialist lawyers to pursue a compensation claim in the event that employer negligence contributed to the NSI. For example, that despite reminders, the employer did not arrange for an overflowing sharps bin to be removed and replaced. Legal costs are not covered under this benefit, but the specialist firm may be able to put in place a ‘No win, No fee’ arrangement.
How to access the benefit
The PDA guide and policy on managing an NSI can be found here:
Below is a summary of actions that need to be taken as soon as possible after a needlestick injury.
- Immediate action: If you experience a needlestick injury, encourage bleeding, wash the area with soap and water, apply antiseptic and a sterile dressing.
- Report the incident: Record it in your workplace health and safety accident book and ensure you keep a personal record of it.
- Seek urgent medical attention: For consideration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and other preventative measures.
- Apply for an appointment and attend a testing centre
- Notify the PDA: You must give notice to the PDA without delay and within seven days of becoming aware of the injury.
- Submit documentation: Provide clear and legible copies of:
- Testing records (dates, provider, results)
- Travel receipts
- Evidence of days unable to work
- Medical reports for diagnosis and injuries
- Respond to requests: Cooperate with reasonable requests for further information from the PDA or insurer.
Mandatory steps for payout
- Notify the PDA within seven days of the injury.
- Keep a record of the incident report (RIDDOR may be HSE appropriate).
- Seek benefits for testing within eight weeks of eligibility.
- Submit and retain all required documentation as outlined above.
- Seek benefits for loss of limb or organ within one calendar year of the event. For death, your estate should claim within one year of probate being granted.
- Respond to any further information requests from the PDA or insurer.
- Please read the section of the insurance policy which is called Cover Type G Health cash plan and personal injury cover for needlestick injuries (page 22 of your policy).
- The injury must not be self-inflicted, deliberate, or result from removing items from a sharps bin.
- Only conventional testing at approved testing centres in the UK is accepted as the trigger point.
Case study: The benefit in action
Scenario1
A PDA member, working as a locum pharmacist, sustains an NSI while administering a flu vaccination. The member follows immediate first aid steps and reports the incident in the pharmacy’s accident book. They seek urgent medical attention by attending the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department closest to the pharmacy and are advised to undergo testing for HIV and hepatitis. They are also signposted to receiving Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) medication due to the risk profile of the patient.
- The member notifies the PDA within seven days of the incident occurring.
- Over the next few months, they attend the official testing centre on three separate days and are unable to work, pending results.
- They submit proof of attending A&E, records of testing from the testing centre, travel receipts to and from the testing centre, and evidence of days off that otherwise would have been worked (evidence of any cancelled bookings)
- The member receives £350 per day for two separate days of tests, (£700), one additional day for a cancelled locum booking that happened to be booked on a day when one of the test results was due and £80 for travel costs for the two tests attended.
- All test results are negative, and no further payments are required.
- The pharmacist receives a financial benefit of 2 x £350 for tests + 1 x £350 for day off + £80 for travel expenses = £1,130.
If the member had been diagnosed with hepatitis, they would have received an additional £5,000. If both HIV and hepatitis, £7,500. In the event of loss of limb or death, the respective lump sums would be paid to their estate.
Scenario 2
A PDA member, working as a primary care pharmacist employee sustains an NSI while working in a Covid-19 vaccination centre. The member follows immediate first aid steps and reports the incident in the clinic accident book. They seek urgent medical attention by attending the Accident and Emergency (A&E) which is proximate to the centre and are advised to undergo testing for HIV and hepatitis. They are also signposted to receiving Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) medication due to the risk profile of the patient.
- The member notifies the PDA within seven days of the incident occurring.
- Over the next few months, they attend the official testing centre on four separate days and are unable to work for one day, pending results.
- They submit proof of attending A&E, records of testing from the testing centre, travel receipts to and from the testing centre, and evidence of days off from their normal working duties.
- The member receives £350 per day for four separate days of tests, (£1,400), one additional day for a normal days work which they took off when one of the test results was due and £180 for travel costs for the four tests attended.
- The pharmacist receives a financial benefit of 4 x £350 for tests + 1 x £350 for day off + £180 for travel expenses = £1,930.
- All test results are negative, and no further payments are required.
If the member had been diagnosed with hepatitis, they would have received an additional £5,000. If both HIV and hepatitis, £7,500. In the event of loss of limb or death, the respective lump sums would be paid to their estate.
Resources
Display this PDA Poster in the area where needles are handled:
Read the PDA NSI member Support Pack:
Additional Support
For more information or to report a needlestick injury, contact the PDA directly. Your safety and wellbeing are our priority.
The PDA offers further support, including wellbeing services and access to legal advice if the injury resulted from employer negligence. Legal costs are not covered by the policy, but panel lawyers may offer appropriate arrangements.
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.