Place the sharps bin on the floor next to the patient, on the side you’re removing the needles from.

Stand beside the patient with three cotton buds in one of your hands, and hold this hand behind your back. With the other hand, remove the needles one at a time, starting at the bottom, and working up. Drop each needle one-at-a-time, immediately in the sharps bin, using the shortest distance and shortest time.

If any point that’s been used, bleeds, apply firm pressure immediately with a new cotton bud. Once the bleeding has ceased, immediately dispose of the cotton bud in the sharps bin or in a yellow clinical waste bag. Do not re-use the cotton bud for the same, or another point, which may bleed.

The number of needles withdrawn should be checked against and match the number of needles inserted. If there is any missing needle, the patient’s body, hair, and clothing, and the treatment couch covers and area, should be thoroughly checked. In the extremely rare event of a needle not being immediately recovered, it must be reported as a clinical incident.