The HMP Safety Podcast: Episode 2 with Alison Simons, Senior Lecturer in Nursing & Midwifery at Birmingham City University

The SHBN is delighted to share that the second episode of the HMP Safety Podcast is now live: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7o6r9pwSTdK70YwSB5ExvH

In this episode Dr Paul Roberts, host and chair of the SHBN, is joined by Alison Simons, Senior Lecturer in Nursing & Midwifery at Birmingham City University (BCU). Alison is an expert in cancer and chemotherapy nursing. She has been publishing research on the occupational risks of handling systemic anti-cancer therapy drugs for over a decade, including a landmark study giving one of the first real snapshots of nurses’ awareness, training and exposure to hazardous drugs across the UK.  

Dr Roberts and Alison discuss Alison’s two decades as a cancer nurse and the personal experience that drove her into researching occupational safety. They explore the range of symptoms and health impacts nurses have reported from handling hazardous medicinal products. They also dig into why, despite a decade of research, so little has changed in practice, pointing to an implementation gap rather than a knowledge gap, a divided nursing culture, and the absence of mandatory guidance and legislation.

The HMP Safety Podcast is a new series produced and released by the SHBN, as part of the wider HMP Safety Campaign. You can find out more about the campaign and getting involved here.

Each episode explores a different aspect of HMP safety, from the evidence behind occupational exposure, to the policy gaps holding back reform, to the frontline experiences of those handling these substances every day. Further episodes covering a range of topics around HMP exposure and safety will be released in the coming months on Spotify.