1. Does your trust provide free female sanitary products (such as sanitary pads and tampons, but excluding maternity sanitary products) to in-patients?
Women who are having planned surgery, normal birth or Caesarean section within our gynaecology and obstetric service are encouraged to bring products of their choice into hospital with them and have a supply ready at home for when they are discharged.
If they do not have a supply with them or have run out we will supply.
2. Does your trust have a policy covering the provision of female sanitary products (such as sanitary pads and tampons, but excluding maternity sanitary products) to in-patients? If yes, please provide this policy.
We do not have a written policy. Sanitary products are purchased through NHS Logistics and are available as required for inpatients.
3. How many premises with inpatient beds are there in your trust, and at how many of these premises are female sanitary products (such as sanitary pads and tampons, but excluding maternity sanitary products) available to purchase on site? For example, in shops or bathroom vending-machines.
Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital No gynaecology or maternity inpatients at this site WH Smith on site – stock sanitary products
Burnley General Teaching Hospital Gynaecology and maternity inpatients at this site WH Smith on site – stock sanitary products
Clitheroe Community Hospital No gynaecology or maternity inpatients at this site
Pendle Community Hospital No gynaecology or maternity inpatients on this site
Blackburn Birth Centre Maternity inpatients on this site No facilities to purchase
4. How much did your trust spend (£) on female sanitary products (such as sanitary pads and tampons, but excluding maternity sanitary products) in the following financial years:
Spend figures to the nearest £000 for female sanitary products (non-maternity).
• 2017/18 £82,000
• 2016/17 £81,000
• 2015/16 £64,000
• 2014/15 £57,000
• 2013/14 Not available
• 2012/13 Not available
5. How many inpatients beds were there in your trust for each of the following financial years?
Number of Inpatient beds as at 31st March
2012/13 1067
2013/14 1104
2014/15 1103
2015/16 1083
2016/17 1048
2017/18 1052
6. Please provide a list of all items that are supplied to in-patients free of charge in your trust, and a list of all items which you advise in-patients to bring with them for an overnight or extended stay.
Advice is given to all our patients via our hospital web site is as follows.
You may wish to use this checklist as a guide to the items you will need in hospital
Shaving equipment
Hairbrush
Comb
Denture Cleaner
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Shampoo
Soap
Face Flannel
Underwear
Night clothes
Slippers
Dressing Gown
Towels
Paper tissue
Day wear
Sweeteners
Special shoes
National Insurance No.
Pension book
Current medication
We advise patients they may also like to bring aids to daily living e.g. walking sticks, spectacles, sanitary pads, nappies. You can also, if you wish, bring cordials, books, writing materials, postage stamps and some small change.
We are unable to provide an exhaustive list of what they receive free of charge, but suffice to say that this will be anything which is required to complete their treatment in hospital, together with all meals.