Period Pants for Frontline NHS workers - for women working 12+ hour shifts this might be one small help

[stumbledin]

I saw this on facebook, and had to stop and think what is this about?

But if you are a women working non stop 12+ hours shifts and you have your period, this could maybe be of help.

It does make you think, as I didn't even know that those working in hospitals dont get tea and coffee, they have to pay over the top prices at commercial outlets. And staff canteens are a thing of the past. You would think the army would be setting up field kitchens and all those top chefs would line up to do the cooking.

But anyway if you want to support this you can do some digging on gofundme.

Or find out if it is an issue at your local hospital and how they want help.

What?

I have heard that medical staff can work for hours in PPE and can't even go to the toilet. Which makes me wonder if some of them wear adult nappies or if menstruating women double up on sanpro (e.g. tampon+pad).

TheReluctantCountess

Why what? Did you read the text of the petition?

Did you read the text of the petition?

You didn't, as far as I can see, link to a petition. You referred vaguely to something you had seen on Facebook.

I think this is a tad overdramtic- there are plenty of toilets in hospitals.

TheReluctantCountess

There is a gofundme to raise money to buy period pants for NHS workers.Can't link to petition sites here as post will be deleted but just google gofundme to raise money to buy period pants for NHS workers
There was an article about nurses in Italy not being able to use the toilet for 6 hrs when they are wearing PPE.

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-bruised-by-face-masks-nurses-show-the-impact-of-fighting-the-pandemic-11955457

I don't think this is over dramatic as a pp suggested, I'm sure it could help a lot of women who are working in hospitals,who can not take toilet breaks that often and have their period while working.

Thanks for the info about the crowdfunding. I found it tricky to find on a search engine, but the direct link was on the Facebook page of the company. I have shared it with groups I'm part of.

I think this is a tad overdramtic- there are plenty of toilets in hospitals. yes but you would need an adequate break to use it. Something tells me you have never worked in healthcare.

I think this is a tad overdramtic- there are plenty of toilets in hospitals

Actually I always think the opposite - there are certainly few patient ones and they are always single toilets on their own or two together rather than a room with e.g. 4 or 5 in. Can anyone tell me if there are separate staff toilets?

This seems like a good time to reestablish canteens or some other method of feeding hospital staff without them having to nip out to try and find a Costa.

Personally I think at this time MNHQ could relax the rule about no links to petitions. I thought by saying search gofundme it would be found.

But thanks to those who have put other ways of getting to the link.

Some Doctors and Nurses, and no doubt support staff are working 12 hours non stop.

I dont even understand quite how these pants work !

Of course it could be this is just a company trying to capitalise on the situation. Which is why I said if you didn't want to respond to them you could find out from your local hospital support group what is most urgently needed - and it may turn out that this is one thing that would be appreciated.

Please no! This will become an expectation.

Women can wear whatever works best for them during their period, but they are also entitled to have a drink and a wee and it is important for their health that they do. Suggesting they are given free period pads so that they can keep calm and carry on is not helpful.

Could you petition for staff to have the breaks they are supposed to have instead?

And yes, I have done my fair share of thirteen-hour shifts on critical care units.

Given the crisis with the coronavirus is it likely that at this time anyone for whatever reason is taking the usual or agreed breaks?

Genuine question. I sort of imaginece from media reports most NHS staff and working way beyond their contracted hours / shifts.

But obviously agree this should NOT be a norm.

ha ha - you are right of course, breaks in the NHS are something of a myth, even in normal times.

However, now more than ever staff need those breaks, to rest, eat, drink, wee, smoke (yes, if they need to), cry, laugh, play candy-crush, phone their families and regain their equilibrium. It's a well-meaning petition, I just think it's campaigning for the wrong thing.

I agree that medical staff should be having appropriate breaks, but these aren't normal circumstances.

The woman running the company has said that the business has been contacted by doctors, nurses and other NHS staff about products to support them, and that's why the company is crowdfunding to manufacture period pants that they can distribute to NHS workers for free.

By all means, there should be a campaign to enable staff to have breaks, but in the meantime, they have to manage somehow.

I feel uncomfortable about supporting this. If medical staff are provided this for free they will surely be under pressure to work non stop without breaks.

1. This puts pressure on women who may feel they need to disclose they have too heavy periods for period pants to be an option

2. This would surely put them at risk of a UTI holding in wee this long regularly (or dehydration headaches if they avoid drinks)

3. Any employee, regardless of sex or occupation; should be given the opportunity to have a wee and a cup of tea during their shift.

My understanding is that PPE usually needs to be changed regularly between patients and it’s not like Ebola where they were wearing massive contained suits everywhere.

I think this is like all the other companies “fundraising” for food, hand cream etc. It’s actually a way for them to make money, and surely actually just encourages a trail of people traipsing up to hospitals dropping off donations when actually we need less people to be hanging around them?

I get that people feel helpless and want to do something; I’m just not sure that this is it.

I think this is like all the other companies “fundraising” for food, hand cream etc. It’s actually a way for them to make money I'm afraid that's my cynical take on it too. Dynre

I'm highly doubtful that it has come from healthcare professionals.