Freedom of information requests

Period policies for staff

Questions

Could you provide the following information whether you have a policy in place to support nursing staff on their period?

 

1. Do you have a period policy for staff?
2. If you do, when was it implemented and what does it say?
3. If not, are you planning to implement one?
4. Do you provide any free sanitary products for staff? If yes, for which staff and where?
5. Are the needs of women who have health problems related to their periods (such as endometriosis) covered by any other policies?
6. What are you doing to ensure staffs have the knowledge and support they need with any issues related to their menstrual cycle? 

Response

1. We do not have a period policy however menstruation is covered in the Menopause Guidelines attached.

2. Please see the response provided in Question 1

3. We have an active Women’s Staff Network that works in partnership with the Trust on a number of objectives including reproduction, menstruation and menopause.

4. Not at this current time however it is part of the work by the women’s network in relation to Women’s reproduction, menstruation and menopause.

5. Where staffs have to take sickness leave due to health problems related to periods, their manager can use their discretion in relation to the Managing Sickness Absence procedure. For this to happen, the member of staff will need to have a discussion with their line manager so that they are aware of this.

6. We have partnered with subject matter experts to train over 300 of our staff in Menopause Awareness. We have Menopause Champions to provide staff with peer to peer support and a Women’s network. We have a dedicated Inclusion and Wellbeing team that provides relevant training to staff as well as advice and support.