A Kesgrave woman has said that changes to how medical waste is collected from people who self-inject for conditions such as diabetes is both discriminatory and "make no sense".

Anne Walker, who has to inject insulin to manage diabetes, disagrees with changes that leave those needing to dispose of hazardous medical waste having to travel further across the county.

The yellow bins, provided to dispose of used needles or sharps by GPs and pharmacies for those who self-medicate for certain conditions, could once be disposed of in the patient's nearest surgery or pharmacy, where patients would be given a new box.

But now there are only a handful of sites accepting the boxes in east Suffolk: Aldeburgh Pharmacy, Beccles War Memorial Hospital, Framlingham Pharmacy, Saxmundham Pharmacy, and the Boots branches in Bungay, Halesworth, and Woodbridge.

Ipswich Star: Anne Walker said the changes do not make much sense.Anne Walker said the changes do not make much sense. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

The 71-year-old said: “My nearest location is now in Woodbridge. I live in Kesgrave, and I am disabled.

“Cars are not allowed to park outside the Boots in Woodbridge, and I cannot walk that far.

“Many people who have to inject have health issues that make it difficult for them to walk around, and many are on their own. This is discrimination against the elderly and infirm.

“I am now stuck with a box of hazardous waste that is nearly full and I do not know how to get rid of it. I could arrange for a hazardous waste company, but I would have to pay for it.

“Doctors and pharmacists must have their own sharps boxes to get rid of, as they give injections. It doesn’t make much sense.”

According to East Suffolk Council, a clinical waste collection service can be arranged for free following the decision.

The council says the decision was made following changes made by NHS England to waste collection contracts in 2018.

The changes meant returned sharps would no longer be accepted at community pharmacies or GP surgeries from patients who self-medicate.

Ipswich Star: Yellow sharps boxes are provided by medical professionals for disposing of used needles or sharps.Yellow sharps boxes are provided by medical professionals for disposing of used needles or sharps. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

But the council says it must meet its obligation to provide a collection facility, and so has partnered with a network of pharmacies across East Suffolk to be collection points for medical sharps.

Sharps boxes at these locations will be collected by East Suffolk Council and disposed of securely.

An East Suffolk Council spokesperson added: “We ask residents who need to dispose of medical sharps boxes, and are able to do so, to take them to a participating pharmacy to be collected by the council and disposed of securely.

“We will also provide clinical waste collection to anyone who needs it and cannot reach a pharmacy.

"This can be arranged through our customer services team, or online through our My East Suffolk page at: my.eastsuffolk.gov.uk.”

NHS England have been approached for comment.