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| Child sucks on surgery's needle | Child sucks on surgery's needle |
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| A toddler's parents must wait 12 months to discover whether he has been infected by a discarded needle he put into his mouth at a health centre. | A toddler's parents must wait 12 months to discover whether he has been infected by a discarded needle he put into his mouth at a health centre. |
| Harvey Mills, aged 21 months, took the hypodermic needle from a bin in an open cupboard at Cannon Street Health Centre, Hathershaw, Oldham. | Harvey Mills, aged 21 months, took the hypodermic needle from a bin in an open cupboard at Cannon Street Health Centre, Hathershaw, Oldham. |
| He was given a hepatitis B vaccination, but needs further injections and his parents must wait for the outcome. | He was given a hepatitis B vaccination, but needs further injections and his parents must wait for the outcome. |
| Health officials have apologised and have started an investigation. | Health officials have apologised and have started an investigation. |
| Harvey's mother Shareen Mills, 28, was holding his four-month-old brother for an injection when she looked up and saw Harvey with the needle in his mouth, standing next to an overflowing sharps bin. | Harvey's mother Shareen Mills, 28, was holding his four-month-old brother for an injection when she looked up and saw Harvey with the needle in his mouth, standing next to an overflowing sharps bin. |
| He was taken to Royal Oldham Hospital's A&E department to be vaccinated. My tummy was in knots - I felt sick Shareen Mills, mother | |
| Mrs Mills and her husband Daniel, 22, are now considering legal action. | Mrs Mills and her husband Daniel, 22, are now considering legal action. |
| She told the BBC that her son had been playing with toys before wandering off into a cupboard. | |
| "The store cupboard was wide open and I was shouting him because I thought he was really quiet," said Mrs Mills. | |
| "The next thing you know I'd stood up with my four-month-old baby in my hands to find my son with a needle in his mouth." | |
| Mrs Mills said she was "gobsmacked" when she saw her son, and told the BBC she now fears for his health after attending A&E. | |
| "My tummy was in knots. I felt sick. I couldn't stop thinking about it," she added. | |
| Harvey faces further injections in the next 12 months | |
| "I couldn't sleep all night wondering what was going to happen to our child." | |
| Gail Richards, chief executive of NHS Oldham, said: "We are deeply sorry for the distress this has undoubtedly caused. | Gail Richards, chief executive of NHS Oldham, said: "We are deeply sorry for the distress this has undoubtedly caused. |
| "This is something no family should have to go through. | "This is something no family should have to go through. |
| "We have launched an immediate investigation and I would personally like to reassure the family that all necessary steps will be taken to get to the bottom of this incident and take any action needed. | "We have launched an immediate investigation and I would personally like to reassure the family that all necessary steps will be taken to get to the bottom of this incident and take any action needed. |
| "We have spoken with the family to reassure them how seriously we are taking this and have apologised to them. | "We have spoken with the family to reassure them how seriously we are taking this and have apologised to them. |
| "We will keep them fully up to date with the investigation and will continue to stay in touch. | "We will keep them fully up to date with the investigation and will continue to stay in touch. |
| "We have also issued immediate instructions to all NHS staff emphasising the importance of ensuring sharps bins are kept secure and used appropriately at all times." | "We have also issued immediate instructions to all NHS staff emphasising the importance of ensuring sharps bins are kept secure and used appropriately at all times." |