The Department of Health has directed Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts to provide period products free of charge on their premises in accordance with its statutory requirements under Section 5 of the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, referred to in this statement as ‘the Act’.
Trusts were requested, in correspondence from Chris Matthews Head of Resourcing and Corporate Management Group dated 31 January 2025, to prepare a written statement to describe the Northern Trust’s implementation of this Act.
The Trust has taken the Department of Health Guidance for Specified Public Bodies into account during the planning of the consultation exercise and the Implementation Plan and will continue to do so during the phased implementation and monitoring. An equality screening assessment has also been conducted to ensure equality and human rights are core to its implementation and this will be subject to ongoing impact monitoring.
Consultation
A regional engagement exercise was undertaken by all HSC Trusts and took place between 18 November 2024 and Tuesday 31 December 2024. The engagement exercise took the form of a confidential survey which invited views from a wide range of stakeholders, including patients and service users, carers, staff and the public. The survey explored a range of topics; the different types of period products that could be made available, preferred locations, methods to obtain the products and whether providing the products free of charge would be of benefit.
A total of 2,665 responses were received by all HSC Trusts as an outcome of the engagement exercise.
Feedback from the outcome of the engagement survey has been used to shape how the Trust implements the requirements of the Act. There was overall support for the provision of free period products along with the sentiment that the Trust should also ensure ‘value for money’ where possible.
Arrangements for provision
The Trust is fully committed to providing period products in a way which respects the dignity, privacy and confidentiality of those who need them.
The Trust will make every effort to make period products available, free of charge, for all who use them. It is important to acknowledge however that, at this time, there is no funding allocated for provision of the products and as such, provision will be funded within existing resources.
The Trust has considered the outcomes of the public engagement within the very challenging financial circumstances in which all HSC organisations are operating.
The Trust Implementation Plan, which commenced in April 2025, initially prioritised the largest buildings in its Estate, with the highest patient, visitor and staff footfall.
The Trust installed dispensers in central female, gender neutral public bathrooms or central accessible/adapted toilets/bathrooms on its main sites:
- Antrim Area Hospital
- Causeway Hospital
- Robinson Hospital
- Dalriada Hospital
- Mid-Ulster Hospital
- Moyle Hospital
- Holywell Hospital
- Whiteabbey Hospital
- Braid Valley Health and Care Centre
Dispensers provide tampons and sanitary pads free of charge.
The Trust has continued to implement the legislation on a phased basis and additional dispensers have been installed in a number of acute and community sites.
Areas where dispensers have been installed
- Antrim Area Hospital (Emergency Department)
- Fern House, Antrim Area Hospital site
- Macmillan Unit (Reception area)
- Laurel House, Antrim Area Hospital site
- Causeway Hospital (Emergency Department)
- Route Site, Ballymoney
- Armour Site, Ballymoney
- Coleraine Health Centre
- Cookstown Community Services Centre
- Maghera Community Services Centre
- Rathlea House, Coleraine
- Childcare Offices, Magherafelt
- Magherafelt Family Centre
- Childcare Offices, Antrim
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Ferrard Site, Antrim
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Ballymoney
- Family Resource Centre, Carrickfergus
- Rathmoyle Resource Centre
- Braid Valley Hospital (Main reception)
- Robinson Hospital (Physiotherapy)
- Mid Ulster Hospital (Eye Clinic Main reception)
Products are also available in inpatient, mental health inpatient, adult centres, children’s respite and residential units, and outpatient areas across the Trust on request. In these areas, the Trust will ensure clear signage is displayed for both staff and patients.
The implementation will be kept under regular review and the list of premises, at which products are available, will be regularly updated by the Trust as implementation progresses.
The Trust welcomes the provision of free period products as part of a regional commitment from all HSC organisations to implement the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.