A History of the SHBN

A Growing Awareness of Needlestick Injuries

The Safer Needles Network began to evolve in the late 1990s with an increase in awareness about the problem of needlestick injury in the NHS, and the potential for blood borne viruses that can result from them. Dr Philip Bickford Smith, who was then a Consultant Anaesthetist at Bradford Hospital had been running workshops in his area and the main NHS unions, RCN and Unison, had been campaigning on the issue alongside the BMA.
 
From the US, a campaign to prevent needlestick injuries emerged in San Francisco led mainly by nurses who were treating AIDS patients at a time when there were no retroviral drugs. This was taken up by the hospitals themselves in California and then nationwide. It resulted in a new federal US law in 2000 under President Bill Clinton called the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, which reduced occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens from accidental sharps injuries in healthcare and other occupational settings. OSHA, the US health and safety agency, and employers were required to identify, evaluate, and implement safer medical devices.

The Birth of the Safer Needles Network

The Safer Needles Network (SNN) was formally set up in 2000 to bring together the existing strands of campaigning and activity in the NHS and to focus on finding a similar regulatory solution to the problem in the UK as had been legislated for in the US.

The membership of the Safer Needles Network developed from its original focus on organisations that represent healthcare workers, such as trades unions and professional organisations and individual clinicians with expertise in the area to include a wide variety of Government/NHS agencies and regulators, professional and trade bodies and manufacturers of the different technologies.

Initially the Department of Health was sceptical about the need for safer sharps and better practice but over time the Government and in particular the Labour health minister John Hutton said that something needed to be done as a result of the scientific research and political and media campaigning by the SNN.

A Growing Chorus Calling for Change

In 2003, the SNN contributed to a landmark report by the National Audit Office which recognised that needlesticks/sharps injuries were the second largest incident in the NHS. In the subsequent Parliamentary public accounts committee hearing there was astonishment that six workers in the NHS had died from contracting HIV from occupational exposure in the SNN’s evidence, and even more so when the chief executive of the NHS incorrectly denied it! The political momentum was thus behind the prevention of needlestick injuries, but the SNN still had much campaigning to do. It then launched a nationwide campaign called Safer Needles Now! which was led by the 3 main NHS unions and had workshops all around the UK.

The Government issued better guidance and regulatory change backed up by the Health Act 2006, which started to have an impact on the reduction in the number of injuries and the provision of safety devices. The active involvement of the HSE in wishing to address the number of cases that were building up led to the next stage of the SNN’s development. The HSE and the nascent CQC started to step up inspections to back up the increasing number of cases where NHS trusts were being prosecuted. A landmark legal case in Scotland also confirmed that lack of resources could not be used as an excuse for poor practice and the lack of provision of safer technology.

Introduction of Sharps Regulations advances a change in culture

In parallel with the SNN’s activities in the UK, the European Biosafety Network began its activity in 2009 in campaigning for European legislation to prevent needlestick or sharps injuries, with the unions (EPSU) and employers (HOSPEEM) eventually signing a framework agreement. The Sharps Directive 2010 was passed and was transposed into UK law as the Sharps Regulations 2013 with the expertise of the HSE and input from the SNN.

Enforcement and compliance, but more than anything a change in behaviour and culture in the UK over the last 20 years, has dramatically changed the way the NHS works in relation to sharps injuries. This is demonstrated by an uptake in safer sharps from about 3% of the market converted in the early 2000s, to 80-90% in the late 2010s.

As the NHS adapted to prevent sharps injuries, the SNN also worked with the care sector to ensure a level playing field, particularly in relation to the provision of diabetes and needle injection technique. The CQC issued its own FAQ and guidance to ensured that sharps injuries are dealt with properly as part of their regulatory role. In addition, the HSE initiated a programme of inspection visits to ensure compliance with the Sharps Regulations 2013 and issued a number of notices and fines which helped to spread compliance further across the country. Dentistry was also a target, as initially the sector did not believe the regulations applied, but when it was made clear by the HSE that it did, the dentistry sector progressively complied with the requirements of the regulations.

The Network rebrands to the Safer Healthcare Biosafety Network as its agenda broadens beyond sharps

In recent years, the SNN has broadened its agenda to include other healthcare worker safety issues – in particular the exposure of workers and patients to hazardous and carcinogenic drugs. The network is leading a working group to undertake an academic study funded by the NIHR to look at the impact of preventive measures on occupational exposure. The HSE also issued new guidance on how to handle cytotoxic drugs which are the main drugs used to treat cancer.

As part of this broadening the SNN decided in 2020 to rebrand as the Safer Healthcare Biosafety Network (SHBN) and to explicitly include the interrelationship between patient safety and healthcare worker safety which has always underpinned its activity. It also ensures that the UK work of the new SHBN will be aligned with the European Biosafety Network.

Expansion the Safer Healthcare Biosafety Network

With the rebranding to the Safer Healthcare and Biosafety Network in 2020, the organisation expanded its focus beyond needlestick injuries to address a wider range of biosafety issues affecting healthcare workers. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need for improved occupational health measures, leading SHBN to advocate for better personal protective equipment (PPE), improved infection control protocols, and stronger regulatory oversight. During this period, SHBN played a critical role in engaging with the UK Health Security Agency, NHS Resolution, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure that frontline healthcare workers were protected from biological hazards and workplace violence.

The network also contributed to key policy discussions on the handling of hazardous medicinal products (HMPs), occupational exposure to cytotoxic drugs, and the mental health impacts of workplace stress in healthcare settings. In 2023, the network also initiated studies examining the psychological toll of workplace violence on NHS staff, leading to recommendations for systemic interventions to reduce aggression in healthcare environments.

The SHBN launches the Safety For All campaign

The Safety For All campaign, launched in 2021, has been a collaborative effort aimed at improving both patient and healthcare worker safety across the UK. Over the years, the campaign has gained significant traction, hosting annual conferences, publishing research, and advocating for policy changes. By 2023, the campaign had established itself as a leading voice in healthcare safety, influencing national discussions and policy developments while continuing to push for systemic improvements in both patient care and worker protection.

Going from strength to strength, in 2026 the SFA campaign continues to deliver a diverse range of content and events to drive awareness and action on healthcare safety. This includes a monthly Insight Newsletter, which provides updates on patient and staff safety initiatives, emerging healthcare challenges, and policy developments. The campaign also produces the Safety Talks Podcast, featuring expert discussions on topics such as workplace wellbeing, antimicrobial resistance, and achieving net zero in healthcare. Additionally, regular webinars focus on key issues like PPE standards, clinical communication, and violence prevention in healthcare settings.

The annual Safety For All Conference serves as the flagship event, bringing together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and patient advocates to share best practices, discuss policy changes, and explore innovative solutions.

The campaign also maintains strong political engagement, hosting parliamentary receptions and maintaining regular dialogue with MPs and key stakeholders to influence national policy and drive systemic improvements in patient and healthcare worker safety.

Strengthening the Safety for All Initiative and Future Outlook

By 2026, the SHBN has established itself as a leading voice in both patient and healthcare worker safety, reinforcing the principle that these two elements are intrinsically linked. The Safety for All campaign gained momentum, producing key reports on the role of occupational health and wellbeing in the NHS publishing insights into the impact of sharps injuries on frontline staff and launching educational initiatives to improve safety standards across healthcare professions. Events such as the annual Safety for All Conference brought together policymakers, clinicians, and industry leaders to drive meaningful change.

Looking ahead, SHBN remains committed to tackling emerging threats in healthcare biosafety. Future priorities include the implementation of improved reporting mechanisms for needlestick and sharps injuries, advocating for robust regulatory measures against workplace violence, and ensuring continued alignment with international safety standards. With an ongoing focus on collaboration, research, and policy influence, SHBN is well-positioned to lead the next phase of biosafety advancements in the UK healthcare sector.

The SHBN Launches a New Campaign – Protecting Healthcare Workers: Safer Handling of Hazardous Medicinal Products

In October 2025, the SHBN, in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), organised and coordinated a Parliamentary Reception to formally launch a new campaign – Protecting Healthcare Workers: Safer Handling of Hazardous Medicinal Products (HMPs). The campaign aims to increase awareness of the risks associated with HMPs, advocate for clear national legislation, enforceable safety standards and the adoption of closed-system handling, reducing preventable harm to the healthcare workers who care for us all. No healthcare worker should be exposed to HMPs as part of their work, be it through inadequate training, procedures or management. Exposure-related harm is preventable and protection measures must be applied consistently across all professions, roles and care settings. This campaign is running both media and political activity with the ultimate goal of improving legislation on safer handling of HMPs.