Project period: Improving period product provision in a large inner city hospital

Abstract

Background: BMA guidance recommends all hospitals provide suitable, comfortable and convenient period products. In 2018, none of Scotland's health boards had policies on sanitary product provision.

Aim: Establish current provision at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.Improve provision for staff and patients.Improve working experience for staff while menstruating.

Methods: Cycle 0: A pilot survey was circulated to assess current provision, availability and impact on working environment.Cycle 1: The survey was circulated to all hospital staff. Suppliers were contacted for donations. Two menstrual hubs were established in the medical receiving unit.Cycle 2: Polling confirmed the preferred mode of downstream product distribution, with products supplied to each ward. Menstrual hub use was monitored.Cycle 3: Staff were resurveyed following the interventions. Findings were presented to hospital and board managers.

Results: Cycle 0: 95% felt current provision for staff was not appropriate. 77% felt provisions were inappropriate for patients (n=22).Cycle 1: 97% felt hospital period product provisions were not appropriate. 84% of menstruators had no access to products when required: 55% asked colleagues for products; 50% used makeshift products and 8% used hospital pads. Overall, 84% did not know where to access period products within the hospital (n=968).Cycle 2: 91% preferred ward-based provisions (n=46).Cycle 3: 95% agreed that project period products were suitable for their needs (n=71). 82% felt access to period products had improved for personal use and 47% for patients. 58% were able to locate products for staff and 49% for patients.

Conclusion: Project period highlighted a need for menstrual product provision in hospitals. It increased knowledge, suitability and availability of period products, and created a robust model of provision which may be easily replicated.

Keywords: Health policy; Healthcare quality improvement; Patient-centred care; Quality improvement; Women's health.