Supporting awareness of occupational risks from hazardous medicinal products – BOPA and PASG
Dear BOPA Member,
Every day, cancer pharmacy professionals play a vital role in ensuring patients receive safe and effective SACT. Whether preparing, dispensing, transporting or supporting the administration of hazardous medicinal products (HMPs), our members are at the forefront of handling medicines that pose recognised occupational risks if appropriate controls are not in place.
Despite the well-established hazards associated with these medicines, many healthcare professionals remain unaware that the legal protections for occupational exposure differ from those applied to hazardous substances in other industries. BOPA and PASG are working alongside UKONS and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) to raise awareness of this important occupational health issue and support informed discussion.
On Wednesday 3 September, Luke Akehurst MP is hosting a roundtable at the House of Commons to explore the occupational risks associated with HMPs and discuss current approaches to protecting healthcare workers. The event will bring together healthcare professionals, professional bodies and parliamentarians to share evidence, clinical experience and perspectives on existing guidance and potential future developments.
As a constituent, you are well placed to make your MP aware of the event and encourage them to attend.
If you are willing to help, it should take no more than five minutes.
- Find your MP using either:
- www.writetothem.com (this identifies your MP from your postcode and sends your message), or
- https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
- Use the template letter below, personalising it with your own experience. Tell your MP about your role, where you work, and how you are involved in preparing, handling or supporting the use of hazardous medicines. A few sentences in your own words will make your message much more powerful.
- Invite your MP to attend the House of Commons roundtable on 3 September so they can learn directly from healthcare professionals and subject experts.
If your MP replies, we would be grateful if you could forward their response to [email protected] and [email protected]. This helps us understand which MPs are engaging with this important issue.
Thank you for supporting safer workplaces for everyone involved in cancer care.
Kind regards,
Netty Cracknell, Joe Williams and Louisa Knowles
British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA) and Pharmacy Aseptic Services Group (PASG)
