Polly Weston
Chair, Association for Continence Professionals (ACP)
A campaign is underway for equal access to hygiene and waste disposal in men’s toilets, especially for those with bladder and bowel incontinence conditions.
As Chair of the Association for Continence Professionals (ACP), I am delighted that following a recent relaunch, with a new name and logo, we are proud to announce our new Patron is Sir Robert Francis. He is well-known for shining a light on the need for health improvement and addressing health inequalities. Sir Francis is particularly interested in striving for excellence in bladder and bowel healthcare.
Male continence campaign for waste disposal access
A huge campaign is underway to lobby for change to ensure equal access to waste disposal in all toilets. ACP supports the ‘Boys Need Bins’ campaign by Prostate Cancer UK which, alongside the All Party Parliamentary Group for Continence Care, has passionately led widespread communication to encourage public buildings to ensure waste bins are available in all toilets.
Recent workplace surveys show that 73% of respondents stated that they didn’t have access to hygiene in men’s toilets. I am delighted that my NHS organisation are keen to address this inequality and is working to pioneer change to ensure male staff and visitors to our buildings have access to sanitary disposal.
Men who wear a pad, pouch, catheter
or stoma bag need practical support.
Adopting hygiene and waste disposal initiative
The University Hospital of Morecambe Bay has started to implement this. We are not alone; let us also shine a light on University Hospitals of Leicester and South Tees NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust for not only getting ahead of the curve but sharing their ideas and inspiring other NHS organisations to adopt this change.
Join us; let’s make this a national conversation, recognising that men who wear a pad, pouch, catheter or stoma bag need practical support. It is not acceptable that they continue to carry their soiled sanitary waste or are expected to use a disabled toilet when they don’t consider themselvesto be disabled.
ACP supports the key recommendation for new legislation, and we urge the public to get involved. Let’s create a better world fostering positive wellbeing and continence dignity for all.
