Health boards ‘lack provision’ for female sanitary products for patients in hospital

Most health boards in Scotland have no provision to provide sanitary products to female patients while they are in hospital, it has emerged.

Research by Labour MSP Monica Lennon has revealed no health board has a written policy to provide sanitary products to patients, but rely on informal arrangements like nurses donating their own, using incontinence products or asking patients to provide their own.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran said it was “a very rare occurrence” for patients to ask for the products, but staff would provide them despite them not being stocked on wards.

Responding to the same FOI request, others said a small supply was held in maternity departments.

Lennon said the situation was “unacceptable and must change” and called for health boards to stock free sanitary products in hospital bathrooms. 

“Despite the expectation from some health boards that women should always be prepared, periods can be unpredictable and illness can affect the menstrual cycle,” she said.

“It beggars belief that NHS chiefs don’t understand this and expect nurses to go into their own purses or leave the ward to run to the nearest shop to maintain the dignity of patients. 

“Equally, we can’t risk hospital patients using sanitary products for unsafe lengths of time because they are relying on visitors to bring them. 

“Health boards should take immediate action to ensure they are providing sanitary products on wards, and develop formal policies to ensure that every patient who needs them has the ability to access sanitary products.”

Lennon has proposed a member’s bill at the Scottish Parliament to introduce free access to sanitary products in public and education settings.