Lanarkshire residents who have been prescribed medication which uses a needle or sharps can get a sharps container for disposal.

NHS Lanarkshire has set up a new campaign aimed at providing sharps disposal containers to residents.

They can be used to dispose of used syringes, needles from pen devices, used finger prick devices, used forceps, scalpel blades, giving sets, pipettes or pipette tips, and insulin pumps.

Residents can collect their sharps disposal container at collection sites across three acute hospitals this week and next.

Staff will be on hand at the following hospitals to assist with the service including University Hospital Hairmyres (UHH), University Hospital Monklands (UHM) and University Hospital Wishaw (UHW). They will be available at the main reception areas from Monday to Friday between 9am to 4pm, at UHM and UHW, and from Monday to Wednesday between 9am to 4pm at UHH.

Diane Hunter, acting head of technical services in the property and support services division at NHS Lanarkshire, said: "We are now making it easier for anyone who has been prescribed medication that involves using a needle or sharp to receive a bin to ensure that used sharps and needles are disposed of safely.

"These are available at our three acute sites or if anyone has a diabetic eye screening appointment booked over the coming few months, they will also be able to collect their sharps bin from the staff."

Those collecting a sharps disposal container will also be given a leaflet with information on the management of the container and where to return them when full.

They can then collect another empty one.