Sanitary bins for male toilets ‘a no-brainer’
Hundreds of local men living with incontinence issues will soon be able to access sanitary bins in public toilets around the island thanks to an initiative led by Male Uprising Guernsey.
The move, which is being supported by States Works and Health & Social Care, will see a first batch of 50 bins placed at local establishments including Waitrose Admiral Park and St Martin’s parish public toilets in the next couple of weeks, with the hope of installing hundreds more at other locations in the near future.
Bins are available to purchase from Mug for £30.
Mug chairman Chris Walker said that the charity had been inspired to take action following discussions with States Works employee Phil Merrien, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer about a year ago.
‘Phil told us about how incontinence had affected him following surgery he had undergone to treat his cancer, and how many men on-island were embarrassed to talk about any problems they were having so kept quiet,’ he said.
‘It opened a can of worms because of the subsequent feelings that can arise from such a condition, including loneliness, isolation and depression, and so inspired us to take action.’
Mr Walker added that male sanitary bins were already commonplace in both the UK and Jersey.
According to statistics from charity Prostate Cancer UK, one in 25 men aged over 40 experience some form of urinary leakage every year, while one in 20 men aged 60 and over experience bowel incontinence.
Mr Merrien said that he had become frustrated at not having anywhere to dispose of the pads he used when he was out at the pub and other public places.
‘There are never any bins in male toilets, yet so many men have a problem,’ he said.
‘Since my diagnosis I’ve wanted to get more men talking about it and get it out in the open, as that’s how we can change things.’
A dozen of the bins are being installed at the premises of Mr Merrien’s employer, States Works, and operations director Ian Gavet said that their installation was a small price to pay in order to make staff’s lives more comfortable.
‘If we choose not to do something like this, we risk losing long-standing staff who may otherwise be too uncomfortable to work.
‘It’s an absolute no-brainer and a small investment that will make a huge difference.’
Featured on top of the bins is a phone number that men are able to call in order to seek professional advice for any problems they may be experiencing.
‘Men may be worried about what products they can use, or about smells that might be as a result of their incontinence,’ consultant urology nurse Patricia McDermott said.
‘We can point them in the direction of the right product, as well as just offering any help and support that they may need.
‘Men must remember incontinence is not a disease or a consequence of getting older, it is the result of a treatable underlying condition.’
Anyone interested in installing a male sanitary bin on their premises is asked to email Male Uprising Guernsey at info@mug.gg.
