While every effort is taken to prevent such incidents, exposure injuries do sometimes occur. The standard safety procedures adopted in the UK for the prevention of exposure injuries are known as standard or universal precautions, where all blood and body fluids regardless of its source are considered to contain infectious agents, and treated as such.
Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) are viruses that people can contract and carry in their blood which may cause severe disease in some people and few or no symptoms in others. The virus can spread to another person whether the carrier of the virus is ill or not. The main BBV of concern are Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Guidelines to this effect were published by the Department of Health called ‘Guidance on the Management of Infected Health Care Workers’ (2000, 2002 and 2007). This is in conjunction with guidelines on Health and Safety, Risk Assessment, Waste Disposal, and COSHH policy.
GO Health Services adhere strictly to all the national guidelines concerning exposure injury and risk management protocols.
Should you have been exposed to blood and body fluids please see the following guidelines:
Students in Placement WITHIN NHS Grampian
Guidelines for Healthcare Students Exposed to Blood Borne Viruses in Placement Within NHS Grampian
Students in Placement Out-with NHS Grampian
Guidelines for Healthcare Students Exposed to Blood Borne Viruses in Placement Out-with NHS Grampian