Reporting period: 2025/2026
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is committed to providing free period products in a manner that respects the dignity, privacy and confidentiality of those who need them, in accordance with the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Our implementation plan initially prioritised the largest Trust sites with the highest levels of patient, visitor and staff footfall. Free period products are currently available from dispensers located in female, gender-neutral and accessible toilet facilities across our main hospital and community sites, including:
- Antrim Area Hospital
- Causeway Hospital
- Robinson Hospital
- Dalriada Hospital
- Mid Ulster Hospital
- Moyle Hospital
- Holywell Hospital
- Whiteabbey Hospital
- Braid Valley Health and Care Centre
Free period products are also available on request across a range of Trust services, including:
- Inpatient wards
- Mental health inpatient units
- Adult centres
- Children’s respite services
- Residential units
- Outpatient departments
The Trust will continue to review the implementation of the scheme and will regularly update the list of premises where free period products are available.
Range of period products available
The following products are available free of charge:
- Regular tampons with cardboard applicator (individually wrapped)
- Ultra soft sanitary pads with wings, normal size (individually wrapped)
Uptake and usage
During 2024/25, more than 85,000 period products were supplied to Trust premises for distribution to patients, service users, visitors and staff.
Number of period products supplied:
- Regular tampons with cardboard applicator – 35,904
- Ultra soft sanitary pads with wings, normal size – 49,368
Promoting the availability of free period products
The Trust promotes the availability of free period products through:
- Signage displayed at Trust premises
- Information on the Trust website within the ‘Looking After Your Health’ section
- Internal staff communications where appropriate
This helps to raise awareness of the service and ensure that anyone who needs period products can access them free of charge.
Free Period Products Signage Poster (PDF)