UK's unsafe syringes found their way to Indian hospitals

London: Syringes declared unsafe for use by the UK's state-funded National Health Service (NHS) found their way to India and are likely to have been used in some hospitals in the country, a media report said here on Sunday.

According to The Sunday Times, banned Graseby syringe drivers were given to hospices and medical organisations in countries such as India, South Africa and Nepal. It followed the phased withdrawal of the devices from the NHS in 2010 following safety alerts dating back as far as 1995.

As part of its investigation, the newspaper found a notice issued by the Isle of Wight NHS Trust in December 2011, which advised staff that to comply with a department of health alert all Graseby MS 16 and MS 26 syringe drivers would be replaced. It added: They will be donated to a 3rd world charity.

Peter Walsh, the chief executive of safety charity Action Against Medical Accidents, said, Obviously the safety of patients in any part of the world should be of concern to us in the UK.