The SHBN & RCN Parliamentary Reception on the Safer Handling of Hazardous Medicinal Products
We are very pleased to share that the SHBN and RCN’s recent Parliamentary Reception marked a historic milestone, the first time the issue of occupational exposure to hazardous medicinal products (HMPs) has been formally raised in Parliament.
This event represents long-overdue recognition of the serious risks these substances pose to the healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to caring for others, often at personal risk. By bringing this issue before Parliament, we have taken an important step towards ensuring safer workplaces, stronger protections, and greater awareness of the dangers associated with HMP exposure.
Our sincere thanks go to Luke Akehurst MP for sponsoring the event, and to Ian Lavery MP, Andrew George MP, Robin Swann MP, and Peter Prinsley MP for their engagement and recognition of the importance of this issue. We would also like to thank all who attended and helped make the reception possible. We are especially grateful to those who spoke at the event and helped bring to light the deeply human aspect of this issue, the stories and experiences that remind us why this work matters.
For the SHBN, this marks only the beginning. We will continue to lead efforts to increase education and awareness around HMP exposure, to advocate for clear national legislation that defines hazardous medicinal products and sets robust, enforceable safety standards, and to ensure consistent training and monitoring across all healthcare settings. We remain committed to driving meaningful improvements in workplace safety through the wider adoption of closed-system handling, regular exposure monitoring, and safer infrastructure.
Our purpose is simple yet vital: to reduce preventable harm, protect healthcare staff, and strengthen the quality of care for patients. Coming together in Parliament marked a meaningful stride toward that shared goal. We are proud of this progress and the collective effort behind it, while recognising that much more must still be done to secure lasting change.
