Cancer nurses in the United Kingdom are reportedly being exposed to “hazardous” medicines linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and infertility, amid concerns that NHS trusts are failing to provide adequate protective equipment, according to an investigation by The Independent and Channel 4 News.
Investigation Findings
The investigation found that tens of thousands of healthcare workers who administer toxic drugs, including chemotherapy and treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, and multiple sclerosis, are often provided only with basic protection, such as plastic aprons and gloves. Despite handling powerful and potentially harmful medicines, staff say higher-grade protective equipment is not routinely supplied in many hospitals.
Some nurses told investigators they had suffered recurrent miscarriages, which they believe may be linked to working on cancer wards without sufficient protection. Others reported symptoms including hair loss, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue, which they also associate with repeated exposure to the drugs.
Personal Accounts
Specialist cancer nurse Alison Simons, who worked in NHS cancer services for more than two decades, said she suffered three miscarriages early in her career while working on chemotherapy wards without advanced protective equipment. “When I was giving chemo, all we wore were plastic aprons and gloves to our wrists,” she said. “I experienced three miscarriages, and at first, I didn’t make any link between them and giving chemotherapy.” She later began to question whether there could be a connection between her work and the pregnancy losses.
Another senior nurse, Samantha Toland, who has worked in cancer care for 26 years, said colleagues had also experienced repeated miscarriages, fertility problems, and long periods of sickness during pregnancy. The investigation also highlighted reports from healthcare workers describing symptoms including hair loss, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and skin irritation after prolonged exposure to hazardous drugs.
Safety Standards Vary Widely
Research cited in the report suggested that safety standards varied widely across NHS trusts. A recent study led by Professor Karen Campbell, former president of the UK Oncology Nursing Society, found that 97 per cent of nurses surveyed said they were primarily given only plastic aprons while handling chemotherapy drugs. The study also found that many workers were not consistently supplied with specialist chemotherapy-rated gloves or closed-system transfer devices designed to prevent leaks and reduce exposure risks.
Last year, NHS West Midlands Cancer Alliance issued guidance warning that insufficient safety controls when handling hazardous medicines could increase the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, liver damage, abnormal cell formation, and other serious health complications. Professor Campbell was quoted as saying that the UK is falling behind countries such as the United States, where healthcare workers handling chemotherapy drugs are routinely provided with full surgical gowns, masks, and double gloves.
Political and Union Responses
Labour MP Luke Akehurst, who previously underwent chemotherapy treatment himself, said the government had a moral responsibility to ensure healthcare workers were properly protected while delivering life-saving care. The Royal College of Nursing has called on the government and the Health and Safety Executive to introduce stricter nationwide standards for handling hazardous medicinal products in hospitals. Current regulations state that exposure should be kept “as low as reasonably practical”, but nursing leaders argue that stronger mandatory protections are needed across the NHS.
An NHS spokesperson said staff safety remained a priority and that NHS trusts had legal duties to protect workers handling hazardous medicinal products. The government said it was working with health authorities and regulators to review concerns raised by professional bodies.
