A TOWN diabetic, who is running a campaign for the safe disposal of used needles, met up with MEP Liz Lynne to press her case this week.

Pamela Jackson-Smith, of Trent Close, has been campaigning for years to find a way of disposing of needles in a safe and easy way in Droitwich and Bromsgrove.

She is outraged no provision exists for disposing of her needle waste and small lancets, used for taking blood samples.

The needles used to be accepted by her pharmacist and the Droitwich Health Centre, in Ombersley Road but this service no longer exists.

Mrs Jackson-Smith visited MEP Liz Lynne at the Snax on Trax platform shop on Monday to ask whether current European Directives can be used to improve the situation.

Her main concern is that someone could accidentally incur a needlestick injury and acquire a bloodborne infection.

"I have been campaigning for the safe disposal of diabetic needles for the past three years. The problem is because of a lack of funding the heath centre and pharmacists are not willing to take away the sharp boxes now," said Mrs Jackson-Smith.

"My concern is too many people are taking the easy way out and throwing them in the general rubbish but the problem could so easily be helped if Wychavon District Council provided a bank, like we find in car parks, to dispose of these needles free of charge.

"If other EU countries can get it right why can't we?"

Wychavon District Council's client services manager, Sharon Casswell, said they did not see a collection point for used diabetic needles in the town's car parks as an option.

However, the authority has written a letter to the NHS calling for a meeting to discuss the matter further.