Minor “challenge” about wellbeing events

[Deanefan]

So I’m getting bolder in my NHS Wales mega captured organisation. Still have my for women scotland XX pin on my lanyard and have replied honestly when I have been asked about it.

This week I emailed the organising group, to ask why the “men’s health” drop in discussion session was men only but the “menopause cafe” was an inclusive event. I pointed out it was likely some women would prefer a discussion in a single sex space.

Ooh, well done! Is there an erectile disfunction cafe? If so, partners and allies should be invited to offer their perspectives and give support 😉

I can imagine some very hushed conversations about how to placate you. Keep going asking those awkward questions

Interesting to see if anything gets disclosed in response to my FOI request. I did toy with the idea of suggesting they run a one off “pop up erectile dysfunction cafe!” just to gauge enthusiasm for the concept amongst the male staff 🤔😂

I read this, then laughed, just after taking a huge mouthful of greek yoghurt. The mess! 😂

I don't think I had seen this thread originally OP, but well done for plugging away at it. I think questions are a good way to go, as this thing is so inherently illogical that illogicality gets shown up really easily, so ask away!

I really notice now when men are allowed to be men, no inclusvity needed.

I sooo miss the laughter emoji. The app only does thanks so please take my thanks as 😂😂😂

🤣🤣🤣

They did similar in my NHS Board - menopause events were open to all and various speakers came to discuss all aspects of menopause which included vaginal dryness and hand out some samples of creams etc while a male colleague sat listening in. I get that it's important for men to understand and support this stage of a woman's life, but the chances of me ever going back knowing Big Dave from Accounts is sat next to me is nil.

Exactly why I want to know if there was any discussion about whether women would prefer a single sex space. There is a separate event dedicated to explaining menopause to line managers etc

So had a response to my FOI request today….

They are still in the process of finalising the response to my request 🙄 I asked specific questions and only three so not sure how much retrieving there needs to be. So the wait goes on

They're clearly having trouble writing out their explanation in a way that doesn't show it up as total nonsense.

My old NHS place planned open-to-all menopause cafes, but were surprising amenable to the idea that some women might prefer women only for privacy.

Or at least weren't keen to argue the point. They may have had in the back of their minds my previous argument with HR, during which I spent several months quoting increasingly obscure passages of tax law at them and asking them to justify their interpretations of it.

That’s 🤣🤣🤣 twice today! Love your comparison of treatment approach- very effective and more difficult to defend. Thanks for this.

Sorry, that was meant as reply to you and Deanefan

So I have now had the proper response to my FOI. In all the years worth of menopause cafes they had data for only 5 men attended - so much for support from the brotherhood. Or perhaps the men felt the women deserved a bit of space. A scoping exercise was conducted in Feb 26, several months after I raised the issue that there was not a women’s health group. This reveals that in informal contacts all the women said they would prefer a general health group to the menopause cafe. The exercise recommends that a women’s health group be arranged.

However I have noticed that nowhere in the document does it say SINGLE SEX womens health group. So I will be clarifying that with wellbeing next week. Overall glad I sent that first enquiry and that I have stuck with it. Embrace your DGAF era ladies 👍😂

Fabulous! What a result and I’m glad you are keeping an eye on it!

Well done. 🙂