30th June 2025
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 the “Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022” – referred to as the Act. This written statement relates to Western Trust’s implementation of this Act by providing period products free of charge in the most effective and cost-efficient way across our sites, in line with a regional commitment from all Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.
Consultation
A regional engagement exercise was undertaken by all HSC Trusts and took place from 18 November 2024 until Tuesday 31 December 2024. The form of the engagement exercise was a confidential survey which invited views from a wide range of stakeholders, including patients and service users, carers, staff and the general public. The confidential survey explored a range of topics relating covering different types of period products that could be made available, and preferred methods to obtain (and locations to access) the products and if respondents felt that 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 that respects the dignity, privacy and confidentiality of those who need them.
Consideration will be given to ensure the products are easy to access, in a variety of locations. In line with feedback received following consultation, it is intended that the products will be available in central female or gender neutral bathrooms as well as central accessible/adapted toilets/bathrooms and in inpatient wards upon request.
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 from existing resources if and when available. The Trust will implement on a pilot scale as an initial phase (in centralised locations with the highest footfall/attendance rates/public access).
A further rollout across all Trust facilities which includes approximately 360 buildings or potential locations. Implementation is expected to commence by the end of June 2025 in the initial phase and continue on a roll out basis across Trust facilities as appropriate and within available resources. This will be kept under review and information will be gathered on an annual basis regarding locations where free period products are available.
Department of Health N.I. Guidance
The Trust has taken Department of Health Guidance (Microsoft Word – FINAL GUIDANCE- DoH Guidance for Provision of Free Period Products- Jan 2025) into account during the planning stages and will continue to do so during implementation and monitoring. The Guidance has also been useful in providing direction regarding consultation with service users, carers, staff and the wider public. An equality screening has also been conducted to ensure equality and human rights are core to its implementation and this will be subject to ongoing monitoring for any impact.
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).
The Trust is delighted to announce the provision of free period products in line with the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Please see below for the locations of the free period products.
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Altnagelvin Hospital
Altnagelvin Hospital Free Period Products Toilet Locations:
North Wing – Ladies toilet behind Helpdesk
Minor Injuries – Main toilet
Central Change Facility – Disabled Toilet
MDEC – Main Ladies Toilets left of reception
NWCC – Disabled toilet beside entrance to Sperrin Unit
Crossroads – Main toilets near Crossroads Restaurant on back wall
South Wing – Disabled ground floor toilet behind old coffee shop
ED Waiting Area Toilet
ED – Old entrance corridor toilet
Laundry – Main Ladies toilets
Renal Unit – Main toilet at entrance
NIAS – Main toilet at entrance
Nurses Home – Ground Floor
Harvey Halls – OH
Anderson House – Foyer
Spruce House – Main Foyer
CTRIC – Main Reception
Agnes Jones
Medical + Dental Centre – Main Toilets
Estates – Office Toilet
Centre Point – Ground Floor
Modular Admin – Main Toilet
Macmillan – Left at Reception
ICATS Admin – Toilets
Endoscopy
DCU
Tower Block – Level 6 -
Omagh Hospital and Community Facilities
OHPCC:
Main Entrance Public Front Foyer
Urgent Care EntranceT&F Hospital:
Addiction Treatment Unit (ATU)
Elm, Lime, PICU, Erne House
ASH Villa
CEDAR Villa
ROWAN Villa
HOLLY Villa
OAK A & B
Birch Villa (Rivendell)
T&FOmagh Communities:
Omagh Centre
Dromore Health Centre
Lisnamallard Industries
Riverside Family Centre
12 Holmview Terrace
Gortmore Day Centre
Beltany House
Dromore Outreach Centre
Castlederg Outreach Centre
Castlederg Clinic, Healthy Living Centre
Carrickmore Health Centre
Rathview
Trillick
Hilltop buillding
Beech Villa -
South West Acute Hospital
Main Entrance Place to Change area : MAI.L0.011
Main Entrance Disabled: MAI.L0.011
Main Entrance Female toilets (Beside hair dressers): MAI.L0.040
Beside Staff restaurant Level 1: CAT.L1.013
Emergency Department toilets in waiting area: AED.L0.062, AED.L0.063, AED.L0.064Fermanagh Communities – Located in a female toilet within each facility
Coleshill House
Drumcoo Centre
Lisnaskea Health Centre
Killadeas Unit 1
Irvinestown Health Centre
Killadeas Unit, Tir Navar
Hope Centre
Fresh Focus
74 Old Tempo Road, Killyvilly
Brookeborough Surgery
Tempo Medical Centre
Killadeas Unit 2