According to Betts Envirometal, experts in precious metal recovery from waste streams, and a provider of ‘total waste management’ solutions, ‘disposing of hospital wastes isn’t usually a glamorous subject, unless, of course, you know how to make money from it’.
As general manager, Simon Hundal, explains, the company is seeking to ‘revolutionise’ how the NHS treats certain waste streams, and, in doing so, to encourage NHS Trust directors and governance managers to check their compliance with patient data retention guidelines as far as medical X-ray film, in particular, is concerned.
NHS storage facilities are likely to contain large volumes of medical Xray film which have passed the legal retention period. Disposal can be expensive – traditionally such wastes would be shredded and buried, or burned. However, by recovering the silver from used X-rays through a fully audited and controlled service, most hospital Trusts could be making money, and some are doing so already. Many NHS Trusts are not familiar with the process or requirements for handling confidential data such as medical X-ray film or personal medical records, whereas others lack the resources to identify and gather files for destruction in accordance with the legislation. To compound the issue, in the majority of cases X-ray film is held by off-site storage contractors, which may charge prohibitive ‘exit fees’ for the release of such items.
Exported to China or India
Log in or register FREE to read the rest
This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text.
If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
