Dirty needle used on 71-year-old skin cancer patient during minor procedure at Noarlunga Hospital

A 71-year-old cancer patient is living in fear after a dirty needle was used during a minor procedure at Noarlunga Hospital.

A patient who underwent a minor procedure at Noarlunga Hospital this week is living in fear after it was discovered clinicians used a dirty needle to anaesthetise him, he says.

The man, 71, went to the hospital to have a skin cancer burnt off his right hand on Thursday morning.

The procedure went according to plan – however it was then discovered the needle in the syringe used to give him an anaesthetic had been used on a previous patient.

The man, who has given The Advertiser his details but wishes to remain anonymous, said he now fears he may have been exposed to infection.

“The doctors apologised and said they had made an unfortunate error, that ‘we used the same needle we used on a previous patient’,” he said.

“I thought ‘Oh my God’. They said there is a very low risk but that is not the point.

“I am also undergoing immunotherapy treatment for cancer so am not in a great position to fight off any kind of infection that may have been passed on.”

Noarlunga Hospital. Picture Dylan Coker

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive Kerrie Mahon. Picture: LinkedIn

Both patients have had blood tests to see if there has been any cross contamination of diseases via the used needle, with the results yet to be determined.

The man said the clinicians were deeply apologetic and said that they would self report the incident.

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive Kerrie Mahon released a statement on Friday afternoon apologising to the patient.

“I sincerely apologise to him for the distress caused as a result of this incident,” Ms Mahon said.

“He attended the Noarlunga Hospital plastic surgery outpatients clinic yesterday, for a minor plastic surgery procedure.

“Prior to his arrival, another patient was being treated in the two-room clinic.

“This patient was administered a very small dose of anaesthetic to their finger as part of a minor ‘ring-block’ procedure, before being moved to another room.

“In a communication error, this patient’s tray remained in the clinical room and was subsequently used by another staff member for a minor anaesthetic procedure to the other patient’s hand.

“The error was quickly identified and both patients were immediately notified and provided appropriate clinical care, including immediate screenings.

“Clinical advice for this incident indicates an extremely low risk of transmission of any blood-borne diseases.”

The man’s procedure went according to plan but it was later discovered the needle used to give him anaesthetic had been used on a previous patient. Picture: Stock image Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Ms Mahon said they were “taking this incident very seriously and are working to immediately implement extra protocols and strengthen normal processes for patient movement and staff communication”.

“Senior staff have reached out to both patients and we will continue to monitor and provide support to them during this time as required.”

The incident came on the same day The Advertiser revealed a bombshell confidential government report showing SA Health has an ingrained culture of expecting doctors to work while ill or fatigued and that they risk being labelled weak if they object.

The report warns this culture can lead to medical errors – with individuals blamed rather than the system they work in.

The Opposition says clinicians need more support, the government says it has recruited 329 doctors above attrition, while the SA Salaried Medical Officers Association has called for proper workforce planning for the future.

Originally published as Dirty needle used on 71-year-old skin cancer patient during minor procedure at Noarlunga Hospital