A passive safety needle shield (300) is provided. The needle shield comprises a base (302) fixed to a proximal end of a needle, and an enclosure housing (304) initially disposed at a distal end of the needle, and enclosing the end of the needle. A hinged arm (306) connects the base (302) and the enclosure housing (304). The enclosure housing (304) is slidable along the needle length, and the hinged arm (306) flexes to permit the enclosure housing (304) to move along the needle as the needle is inserted into a user, thereby hiding the needle end, and providing support to the needle to avoid bends or buckles in the needle. The hinged arm (306) is biases in the initial position so that the enclosure housing (304) returns to the end of the needle as the needle is withdrawn.