Men are left short when it comes to sanitary bins

States Property Services told the Guernsey Press it was ‘not currently considering the installation of these bins at this time’.

This is despite an estimated 2,000 men locally who live with some degree of urinary incontinence.

Sanitary bins are provided in women’s toilets routinely and in many jurisdictions this has become a legal requirement.

However, suitable bins are rare in men’s toilets, meaning there is often nowhere to dispose of an incontinence pad.

Prostate cancer, Crohn’s disease and colitis, among other conditions, often require the use of incontinence pads when away from home.

Jersey has installed bins in 38 public toilets in response to a multi-charity UK campaign called Boys Need Bins.

‘We don’t want to be causing further anxiety over how to dispose of used pads when out and about,’ said Jersey’s Infrastructure minister Deputy Tom Binet.

‘This is a simple step that will hopefully make a big difference to those affected.’

The Boys Need Bins campaign is being led by Tackle Prostate Cancer, which has reported testimony from some male cancer patients ‘stuffing their soiled incontinence pads in their bags and carrying them home’, ‘hiding the pads behind pipes in toilet cubicles’ and ‘sodden pads leaking over their trousers’ because they have not been able to change them.

The campaign, supported by Prostate Cancer UK and Bladder Health UK, is pressing for legislation on bins in men’s toilets to help the estimated one in three men over 65 who live with urinary incontinence.

‘We have had great traction nationally, with so many areas taking on board the needs of men and that provision should be made, as a matter of course,’ said Prostate Cancer UK’s health-influencing senior officer Lubna Latif Curtis.

As well as urinary incontinence – which the NHS estimates affects 3-6 million people in the UK – bowel incontinence also necessitates the use of sanitary bins.

‘There are over 500,000 people in the UK living with Crohn’s and colitis, many of whom experience symptoms like urgent, frequent diarrhoea,’ said Crohn’s & Colitis UK CEO Sarah Sleet.

‘This can happen at any time, any place. The installation of incontinence pad bins in men’s toilets is a brilliant idea. It will give people piece of mind, wherever they are. Crohn’s & Colitis UK greatly supports the recent decision by the government of Jersey to do this and hopes that many others will follow suit.’

What Guernsey does offer

Guernsey’s continence team provides a free service to patients registered with a GP practice.

It aims to provide a nurse of the same sex and, where appropriate, an individual treatment plan by agreement with the patient.

Further information can be found on the States website or by calling the Princess Elizabeth Hospital on 220000 extension 25448 or 25449.