CORPORATE OFFICE
Level 2, H Block
The Princess Margaret Hospital
Telephone: 0064 3 364 4160
Cashmere Road
Fax: 0064 3 364 4101
CHRISTCHURCH
[email address]
22 June 2015
Ms Rosemary Lynch
Email [FYI request #2767 email];
Dear Ms Lynch
Re: Official Information Act Request CDHB/G 9123 and WCDHB 8412
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act (1982), dated 24 May 2015 and
transferred to us from the Ministry of Health on 27 May 2015 requesting the following information.
1. How much money is spent annually on the purchase of hollow-bore needles for use by the
Canterbury District Health Board and the West Coast District Health Board; and who is the provider
of these supplies?
The amount spent across the Canterbury DHB and the West Coast DHB for hollow-bore needles
annually is approximately $2.6 million dollars. We are unable to separate the amount for each
District Health Board.
Please refer to
Appendix 1 (attached) for the providers of ‘hollow-bore’ needles for both
Canterbury DHB and the West Coast DHB.
2. What are the numbers and types of hollow-bore needles purchased annually for use by the
Canterbury District Health Board and the West Coast District Health Board?
Please refer to
Appendix 1 (attached) for the quantities and a description of the ‘hollow-bore’
needles purchased annually for both Canterbury DHB and the West Coast DHB.
3. How many Canterbury DHB and West Coast DHB staff/workers, who have experienced a needle
stick injury while in the workplace, test positive for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV),
and/or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) annually?
There have been no test-positive results for HBV, HCV or HIV from needle stick injuries for
Canterbury DHB or West Coast DHB staff or workers while in the workplace during the current 2014-
15 year to date.
4. Does the Canterbury DHB and the West Coast DHB have any plans and/or policies in place to
reduce instances of needle stick injuries?
The Canterbury District Health Board and the West Coast District Health Board have a needle stick
injury policy in place within their wider Infection Control and Policy Procedures Manual, which
outlines the policy and procedures for the prevention and management of blood and body fluid
exposure. Please find a copy of the policies attached as
WCDHB - Appendix 2 and
CDHB – Appendix
3 and Appendix 3a. The policy is regularly reviewed by the Infection Control Committee of the DHBs,
and there is a review of new products through the Product Evaluation Committee to promote a
needle-less system.
In practical support of the policy, all clinical staff receive regular training and updates from the DHBs’
Infection Prevention & Control Nurse on the safe handling and safe disposal of needles and sharps.
Point-of-use sharp containers are widely distributed in all workplace areas for the disposal of used
needles & sharps. Use of alternative, needle-less options is encouraged wherever possible for
intravenous syringes, angio-catheterisation, and similarly adaptable procedures. Blood and body
fluid exposure kits in ready-to-use packs are located in all service areas in the hospital and
community based services (these kits include a copy of the blood and body fluid
exposure instructions & policy among their contents).
Yours sincerely
Greg Hamilton
for Carolyn Gullery
General Manager
Planning, Funding & Decision Support