MPFT’s Specialist Pelvic Health Team empower male patients to dispose with dignity

“Embarrassed, stressed and isolated” - three words used by one man with incontinence caused by his treatment for prostate cancer to describe how he feels every single day. Men who need to dispose of their sanitary waste often have no direct access to a sanitary bin in male toilets.

This candid insight is why the Specialist Pelvic Health (SPH) Team at Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) are ensuring the installation of sanitary bins in male toilets at SPH clinic sites across Staffordshire this World Continence Awareness Week (16 – 22 June), in support of Prostate Cancer UK’s Boys Need Bins campaign.

Clair Farley, SPH Team Clinic Lead explains: “Men who experience incontinence are often forced to use disabled facilities to access a sanitary bin which can make them feel embarrassed, and they don’t consider themselves to be disabled. Men have reported that they want to be able to dispose of their sanitary waste discreetly and in a dignified manner – we at MPFT feel that it’s time for men to have their own provision.

“In support of the Boys Need Bins campaign and in line with the Trust’s mission to make life better for our communities, the SPH team led a pilot project to enable male service users to ‘dispose with dignity’ at three key Trust sites with the installation of bins in male toilets. We are pleased that the provision of bins is now being extended to SPH clinic sites across Staffordshire, and what better time to launch the project’s second phase than World Continence Awareness Week!”

Dr Ian Turner, Director of Nursing and Infection Prevention and Control at MPFT said: “Embarrassed, stressed and isolated are powerful words that describe the emotions faced by men with incontinence which inspired us as a Trust to act. Incontinence is a topic that can be difficult for men in particular to talk about and difficult for our patients to raise. Our Specialist Pelvic Health teams provide a range of assessment services, advice and interventions to support patients and their families and are keen to promote discussions related to continence.”

Speaking of his support for the project, Neil Carr, MPFT Chief Executive added: “The provision of bins is a small but practical measure that can make a huge difference to men needing to dispose of continence products. We are pleased to support the campaign and help maintain the privacy and dignity of our patients, colleagues and visitors to the Trust, and to support their emotional and physical wellbeing.”

Male toilets with a sanitary bin at MPFT sites will display a poster incorporating the Boys Need Bins logo.