[lettie]

I have seen loads of people in my career who are victims of self harm (both young and old). Psychiatric services offer some support, but nowhere near enough. For nurses in A&E and general practice who have to patch up these people's physical injuries it is not an easy job and attempts to get them psychiatric help often fail.

I would not have thought of asking them to use clean blades but I suppose it makes sense these days. Used razor blades can harbour such delights as Hep B, HIV (if they have wet blood on them). Glass can leave fragments in soft tissues causing further damage, if glass has been on the floor outside there is a tetanus risk. With any cut there is an infection risk, a lot of healthcare these days centres around minimising risks. For example needle exchange schemes...... If someone is going to inject drugs nobody can stop them, but we have to give people the means to minimise the risk to their health. So it would stand to reason that if someone is going to self harm try to make it safer.

It is not an ideal option but it is not an ideal world. People who self harm are rarely suicidal, so if they're going to self harm and live, then minimise the risk of the complications of infection, especially when we have so many life threatening infections about.