The HMP Safety Campaign page is now live!
The HMP Safety Campaign page is now live on the SHBN website: https://shbn.org.uk/hmp-safety/
The campaign has been established to address the ongoing risks faced by healthcare professionals who prepare, administer, or dispose of hazardous medicines, including cytotoxic agents, immunosuppressants, antivirals and certain hormonal treatments. Despite well-evidenced risks and growing international action, the UK continues to lack a clear definition of HMPs, consistent identification and labelling, and enforceable minimum standards for their safe handling. As a result, exposure risks for staff remain unevenly managed across the health system.
Over the coming year, the campaign will focus on three core objectives:
- increasing awareness of occupational exposure risks associated with HMPs
- advocating for clearer national guidance and strengthened regulatory standards, aligned with international best practice
- supporting practical improvements in workplace safety, training and monitoring
As part of this programme, we are progressing a series of public affairs and professional engagement activities, including a parliamentary roundtable planned for summer 2026, a national SHBN conference on 6 November hosted at the Royal College of Physicians in Regents Park, and a programme of webinars, podcasts, educational resources and also policy-focused discussions throughout the year.
See BOPA’s statement HERE – BOPA and PASG Publish Joint Position Statement on the Safer Handling of Hazardous SACT Drugs – BOPA
