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Provision of free period products

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has installed free period product dispensers in centrally located female, gender-neutral and accessible public toilets across a number of hospital and community sites.

Main hospital sites with dispensers

  • 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.

Locations by area

Antrim area

Antrim Area Hospital

  • Main hospital site Emergency Department
  • Fern House
  • Laurel House
  • Macmillan Unit (Reception Area)

Community sites

  • Childcare Offices, Antrim
  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), Ferrard Site, Antrim

Causeway area

Causeway Hospital

  • Main hospital site Emergency Department

Community sites

  • Coleraine Health Centre
  • Rathlea House, Coleraine
  • Rathmoyle Resource Centre, Ballycastle

Ballymena area

Braid Valley Health and Care Centre

  • Main Reception

Ballymoney area

Robinson Hospital

  • Physiotherapy Department

Community sites

  • Route Site, Ballymoney
  • Armour Site, Ballymoney
  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), Ballymoney

Mid Ulster area

Mid Ulster Hospital

  • Eye Clinic Reception

Community sites

  • Childcare Offices, Magherafelt
  • Cookstown Community Services Centre
  • Maghera Community Services Centre
  • Magherafelt Family Centre

East Antrim area

Community sites

  • Family Resource Centre, Carrickfergus

Additional availability

Period products are also available on request in a range of Trust services, including:

  • Inpatient wards
  • Mental health inpatient units
  • Adult centres
  • Children’s respite services
  • Residential units
  • Outpatient departments across the Trust on request

Need period products?

If you cannot locate a dispenser, please speak to a member of staff who will be happy to assist.

Period Product Safety: Understanding Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by an infection. It can happen when using a tampon or a menstrual cup, or from an infected wound.

Symptoms develop quickly and you should seek urgent treatment by attending your nearest emergency department, or by calling 999.

Symptoms

  • a high temperature
  • muscle aches
  • a raised skin rash that feels like sandpaper
  • flu-like symptoms

How to prevent Toxic Shock Syndrome

  • Wash hands and follow the instructions when using tampons and menstrual cups.
  • Do not leave them in longer than recommended.
  • Keep cuts and burns clean, and look out for signs of infection, such as a rash, swelling or pain.