Calls for sanitary bins in male toilets made at Hampshire County Council meeting

Calls have been made to introduce special bins in male toilets across Hampshire to support men who use sanitary products due to prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, and more than two thirds of those treated with surgery experience incontinence as a result, writes Natalia Forero of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Men who need to dispose of their sanitary waste, including incontinence pads, pouches, stoma, catheter, colostomy, and ileostomy products, often have no access to a sanitary bin in toilets.

In support of this, Councillor Martin Tod submitted a motion urging Hampshire County Council to provide of at least one sanitary bin in all male toilets, both public and in council buildings, as well as encouraging other providers of public and workplace toilets in the area to make male sanitary bins available in their facilities.

At full county council meeting on 28th September, Cllr Tod said: “This motion is tackling a problem that particularly affects many of the men that have been treated for prostate cancer, but prostate cancer is by no means the only condition that causes these issues.

“The use of sanitary products by men is one of those challenges that most of us don’t think about until it happens to us or someone we care about. It might be a small change, but it would make a big difference for some people.

“It is an invisible problem. It is an embarrassing problem. But it is almost shocking how simple it is for us as a county council to help make a difference.”

The motion, which all members of the council welcomed, allowed them to share their personal experiences in dealing with the consequences of suffering or suffering prostate cancer.

Cllr Juliet Henderson said: “Thank you [Cllr Tod] for bringing this motion forward. Sometimes, something is difficult to talk about, and swiping it to one side is easy. Two members of my family have recently been treated for prostate cancer, and I know how much difference your motion will make for the everyday life experiences of man.”

Cllr Marge Harvey said: “My late husband used these products quite a lot, and all the time we had to carry something we could put the used ones in, which was embarrassing for him, so I think this is really important.”

Cllr Jackie Porter added: “I have a family member who has an internal stoma. We travel with him in this country and abroad, and actually other countries sometimes do it better than we do.

“If this were employed across the whole country, it would make a huge difference. It would be great to see Hampshire as one of the counties that actually take the lead. I hope you all use your experiences to take back to your own communities and local coffees to ensure they understand this is necessary.

Cllr Alex Crawford shared his own experiences: “I had prostate cancer and had a radical prostatectomy about four years ago. I’m embarrassed on a daily basis, but you wouldn’t guess that from the way I go about things. But it is a fact that you have to cope with the every day and get on with it.

“I think this is an important initiative.”

Leader of the council, Rob Humby, said he would write to all Hampshire MPs and all districts to spread the word to local businesses.

Cllr Humby said: “Our colleague, councillor Henderson, said about not talking about these things. We have achieved that today very openly, and we’ve heard very personal stories. Well done”

The motion was carried.