Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Can someone explain that business about sanitary products and hospital workers

272 replies

Ohmycron · 23/01/2022 16:43

I don’t understand why they just can’t take a big pack in in case they run short like everyone else does

Have I missed something.

OP posts:
BlackAndPinkNose · 23/01/2022 16:44

They often are unable to take toilet breaks to actually change pads / tampons is the issue I believe

Original poster
Ohmycron · 23/01/2022 16:45

Really? Seems unlikely !! Surely you take a piss somewhere

OP posts:
Snowiscold · 23/01/2022 16:46

Link? Or explanation? The only info I can see is about hospitals providing more choice to patients.

FFSFFSFFS · 23/01/2022 16:46

They’re often under so much pressure that they don’t have time to go to their locker etc get the pad etc and they

Seeline · 23/01/2022 16:46

Also they have to keep stuff in lockers which aren't necessarily near where they are actually working - especially eg doctors covering multiple wards, so can't access any personal items quickly.

ManxDi · 23/01/2022 16:47

I may have misunderstood completely (I have form), but I believe it to be location. So if I work at a hospital, I have a locker and staff loo. MY sanitary gear is in my locker/staff loo. I am having one of those super fun heavy days and am called to work on another ward/do a different routine which takes me away from my locker/staff loo. I need to use the nearest loo asap before I bleed through my scrubs. No sanitary protection in this loo though, no time for a full on break for me to get back to my own supply of sanitary gear...

simonisnotme · 23/01/2022 16:47

Im not convinced that they are so busy all the time that they cant go for a wee

ThreeB · 23/01/2022 16:47

@Seeline

Also they have to keep stuff in lockers which aren't necessarily near where they are actually working - especially eg doctors covering multiple wards, so can't access any personal items quickly.
This!
Original poster
Ohmycron · 23/01/2022 16:48

@FFSFFSFFS

They’re often under so much pressure that they don’t have time to go to their locker etc get the pad etc and they
Every time I’ve visited someone in hospital, there have been lots of rooms labelled staff rooms or nurses stations and so on.

Even if they have no locker, surely they should provide them themselves

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohmycron · 23/01/2022 16:48

Really odd thing.

OP posts:
FFSFFSFFS · 23/01/2022 16:48

But you’re right - it’s only a problem that women have and really who do they think they are raising issues like that.

Toilet paper is totally a different issue because men also need that so of course that should be supplied everywhere for free. Bodily functions should be catered for if they can be associated with the male body.

Bloody women.

Original poster
Ohmycron · 23/01/2022 16:49

@ManxDi

I may have misunderstood completely (I have form), but I believe it to be location. So if I work at a hospital, I have a locker and staff loo. MY sanitary gear is in my locker/staff loo. I am having one of those super fun heavy days and am called to work on another ward/do a different routine which takes me away from my locker/staff loo. I need to use the nearest loo asap before I bleed through my scrubs. No sanitary protection in this loo though, no time for a full on break for me to get back to my own supply of sanitary gear...
Ah I see. How many people are actually like this in a hospital though?
OP posts:
Absolutesuperstar · 23/01/2022 16:49

You need access to your backpack/locker and in a large hospital/on busy shifts/wearing scrubs (no pockets) it can be difficult. Whereas if san pro was available in the toilets it wouldn’t ever be an issue.

Original poster
Ohmycron · 23/01/2022 16:50

@FFSFFSFFS

But you’re right - it’s only a problem that women have and really who do they think they are raising issues like that.

Toilet paper is totally a different issue because men also need that so of course that should be supplied everywhere for free. Bodily functions should be catered for if they can be associated with the male body.

Bloody women.

Alright shirty pants !
OP posts:
Original poster
Ohmycron · 23/01/2022 16:50

@Absolutesuperstar

You need access to your backpack/locker and in a large hospital/on busy shifts/wearing scrubs (no pockets) it can be difficult. Whereas if san pro was available in the toilets it wouldn’t ever be an issue.
I see.
OP posts:
Original poster
Ohmycron · 23/01/2022 16:51

I work in a school where we are utterly awash with sanitary protection that everyone reckons all the kids need and take up is so minimal

OP posts:
SomeOwlsCoo · 23/01/2022 16:51

I've worked in healthcare. It was quite common to work through our breaks, not have time to go to the toilet, staff room was at the other end of the building and management would question why we were going there when it wasn't our break.

Seeline · 23/01/2022 16:51

Even if they have no locker, surely they should provide them themselves

How? I don't think nurses carry and handbag all the time. Scrubs don't have pockets. Where are they going to keep spare products?

Original poster
Ohmycron · 23/01/2022 16:51

@SomeOwlsCoo

I've worked in healthcare. It was quite common to work through our breaks, not have time to go to the toilet, staff room was at the other end of the building and management would question why we were going there when it wasn't our break.
Tee hee. I’d take a long walk.
OP posts:
Ozanj · 23/01/2022 16:52

It’s about more than just availability of pads. It’s the whole process. From time required to go to your locker, wash your hands, change, and then wash your hands again before returning. To Handwashing / hygiene protocols often require a change of scrubs too if you leave certain areas and so you may be looking at a break of 10-20mins minimum. I know a Paramedic who used to go to a local Supermarket to change her pads but then got photographed and had her photo but up on FB as a shirker etc etc.

Alpenguin · 23/01/2022 16:52

@simonisnotme

Im not convinced that they are so busy all the time that they cant go for a wee
I’ll be sure to tell my partner that. He regularly misses meals the entire 12 hours because they’re short staffed and over busy in ICU, comes home dehydrated and I guess a bonus is that it’s good for not needing loo breaks. If he was bleeding from his dick every month you can be sure hospitals would have closer toilets and lockers( his locker is three floors down!) and pad availability in every loo
PinkDaffodil2 · 23/01/2022 16:53

@simonisnotme I’m not sure anyone is so busy all of the time but certainly lots of junior doctors and other HCPs are that busy enough of the time that it’s an issue.

Forfamily123 · 23/01/2022 16:53

I thought the BBC article on it was really clear. If you are a 10/15 walk away from your locker, can’t carry a handbag around with you or pop something into your pockets, have an ill patient who needs your attention but suddenly need to change your period protection then what do you do? Leave that person for 25 mins?

SomeOwlsCoo · 23/01/2022 16:56

Tee hee. I’d take a long walk.

I'm glad you think it's funny. What do you do on that long walk when your (male) manager stops you and asks where you are going. It's not your break and you should be doing xyz. This is done publicly in the corridor. There are other members of staff, patients, visitors etc.

When that happened to me i tried to quietly explain the situation. I was told I needed to wait until my break. W which was still 2 hours away. And I'd bled through a double pad already and was on the verge of ending up with wet trousers.
It improved marginally when we got a female manager.

Whyarewehardofthinking · 23/01/2022 16:57

It is the time it makes to go and get something from your locker or the staff room. They can't carry products with them easily and could have literally 1 minute to go to the toilet; what can you do if your locker or bag is 5 minutes away but you are stood next to another toilet?

There have been multiple times I've been at work (teacher) have at 15 minute break that turns into 10 minutes dealing with an issue outside the room I'm teaching in, another issue as I walk to my office and then if I manage to get supplies from my office I've then not got time to go to the toilet as I have another lesson, usually in a room different to the first. Having to stick wads of toilet roll in my underwear is not acceptable or suitable for another hour or 2 when I'm teaching. It certainly isn't acceptable for those in health care dealing with patient after patient and not having a reliable break time.