Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

alphavet — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 17:38:35 GMT

Yes we do. It’s just common sense when the majority of staff are female. I never thought it was a big deal or felt the need for a press release!

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Silvia Maldonado — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 11:25:08 GMT

I'm working for a VetsPartners clinic at the moment, and they do provide some of the sanitary items you mention. Really appreciated when you do need it, for you need it there and then, and don't have time to ask colleagues busy rushing to a fro if they might have a spare one.

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Rob Loxley — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 13:04:58 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241144#241144"]

Why?

Why can't people provide their own?

Where does it stop

[/quote]

Maybe the question is 'why not?' Why do we provide tea/coffee/discounted pet care/flexible working/good CPD allowances/comfortable seats in the staff room? Maybe if we started from asking where can it start rather than where does it stop, we might positively impact retention?

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Clive Ansell — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 06:20:38 GMT

[quote userid="2186" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241193#241193"]Thus speaks the man who has never been caught short, stuffed fistfuls of loo roll into his knickers, then hastily bandaged the fistful onto the gusset of the knickers[/quote]

Sounds like a sensible back or or contingency plan in the face of an unexpected disaster.

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Nicola Cole — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 21:34:45 GMT

pass me the Tena lady-funniest thing I’ve heard for a long time

(p.s. obviously not funny for the lady in question)

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Virginia Campbell — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:34:44 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241144#241144"]

Why?

Why can't people provide their own?

[/quote]

Thus speaks the man who has never been caught short, stuffed fistfuls of loo roll into his knickers, then hastily bandaged the fistful onto the gusset of the knickers with more loo roll to try to stop the bloodsoaked bog roll slipping sideways out of the knickers , down the trouser leg and onto the consult floor in front of a bemused client.

Of course we should all be organised enough at all times to maintain and replenish a little personal stash in the handbag, glove compartment and cupboard under the consult room computer but my brain doesn't work that way sadly. And I have a 3 year old who would probably be Fagin's star accomplice despite my admonishments that rifling my handbag and car is not acceptable behaviour. (we're getting there slowly).

I work for a CVS practice and was pleasantly surprised to find the free dispenser attached to the wall of the loo. Quicker and more pleasant than the gusset bandaging op pending somebody else who might have spare finishing their zoom call or coming out of consults or whatever.

Also quite nice for our clients I would imagine, who use the loo too. We also provide a roll of poo bags up the front for the dog owners. Of course the dog owners should take their dogs for a poo before the vet visit and have an emergency stash in the pocket, but you, know...

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 11:05:10 GMT

[quote userid="3169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241162#241162"]In the same way that I would carry painkillers and a first aid kit in the car, if I was female I'm sure I'd keep a small collection of my preferred make and type of period product if I was a menstruating woman for such surprises.[/quote]

Absolutely. But you may have borrowed your partners car. Or cleared it out for your MOT. Or used it and forgotten to replace, or the car is parked outside and you're prone to bleeding like a stuck pig... many many reasons why you get caught short.

The difficulty with comparing it to provision of a paracetamol or toothpaste is that other people generally can't tell if you don't have them.

As Arlo has said, its like that moment when you have had unexpected diarrhoea only to then realise the empty toilet roll hasn't been replaced...

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 11:03:16 GMT

[quote userid="10320" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241165#241165"]Shout out to my husband who recently brought home incontinence pads instead,[/quote]

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Lucy Fleming — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 10:58:40 GMT

[quote userid="3169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241162#241162"]Maybe the men should stay out of this conversation, but isn't the same true of period products? Is it a case of when desperate, you will use whatever?[/quote]

Basically, yes - in a pinch, nice to have something available, even if not your preference.

[quote userid="3169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241162#241162"]I find it overwhelming getting specific products from the shop for my own wife.[/quote]

Shout out to my husband who recently brought home incontinence pads instead, so you definitely aren't alone there!

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 23:27:51 GMT

[quote userid="7269" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241147#241147"]We don’t, and don’t have plans to do so. However, I know that if someone was caught short they would ask another member of staff and would be sorted out. We do provide tea, (good) coffee, milk, sugar and copious amounts of biscuits. All essentials to staff happiness. Paracetamol is also available. [/quote]

Exactly the same with us. Usually there is also communal bread, butter, jam etc so an emergency dinner can be created. We have Nespresso machines.

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241148#241148"]Even my own coffee and cafetiere as I prefer particular brands of real coffee [/quote]

Maybe the men should stay out of this conversation, but isn't the same true of period products? Is it a case of when desperate, you will use whatever? Far from my area of expertise but there is so much variety and choice, even within the same brand, that I find it overwhelming getting specific products from the shop for my own wife.

In the same way that I would carry painkillers and a first aid kit in the car, if I was female I'm sure I'd keep a small collection of my preferred make and type of period product if I was a menstruating woman for such surprises.

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

cairncross — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 22:13:45 GMT

Similar though really limited to potatoes and rhubarb I am not capable of growing much else I guess due to time these 2 don't need much care and climate . Food inflation is amazing at minute , tin of spaghetti Bolognese in local shop £2.40, my student brain says it should be about 23p . Yet clients keep giving us food , mostly buns chocolate etc but as I said lots of eggs recently, 3 brace of pheasant a box of fish recently one client gave us a lot of venison at Christmas which was frozen and shared out ,Scrambled egg breakfast/brunch for everyone after morning clinic has been a weirdly bonding/happy event there were several cases of beer given at Xmas which are stacked in the back hall and get distributed on a Friday night after clinic amongst whoever isn't driving or wants to take a couple home . There is a cupboard kept with a variety of breakfast staples incase someone Oncall misses that slot . There are always noodles and a few tinned basics also incase someone forgets lunch or has had some crisis at home and didn't manage . We have the "magic sofa" a huge comfortable old one with horse blankets on that seems to have a sedative effect for anyone stressed out ,sore head needing power nap. None of this is abused everyone has to work intensely and unpredictably sometimes for too long hours little bouts of downtime I think help .

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Clive Ansell — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 11:48:48 GMT

[quote userid="19228" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241150#241150"]potatoes[/quote]

Why Potatoes?

I have an allotment, and when stuff is in season and there is a surplus, I take it into work. Sometimes struggle to give fresh produce away, seems many aren't interested

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Joyce Whitehead — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 11:02:36 GMT

I see your point (obviously we provide lol roll) but we have a very close practice team, predominantly women, and I know for a fact this wouldn’t be an issue.

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Arlo Guthrie — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 08:37:34 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241149#241149"]only loo roll available seemed like the local council cheapo greaseproof [/quote]

Ha, takes me back to my schooldays.

Still, when it comes to cleaning, er, bodily discharge, I'm not sure why it is only considered a requirement to cover that which comes out of both sexes, and not the one unique to females.

[quote userid="7269" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241147#241147"]However, I know that if someone was caught short they would ask another member of staff and would be sorted out.[/quote]

Sure, but I'd be a bit embarrassed if I had to ask a colleague when I got caught short needing a dump: "You don't have some spare loo paper, do you? Oh, sorry, I'll need rather more than that this morning; big curry last night; I think it's going to take 20 sheets."

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

cairncross — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 07:49:13 GMT

Not toothpaste in our case but the rest yes also soft drinks ,pool table ,stable potatoes Separately clients provide a constant supply of buns and cakes and currently for some reason a glut of eggs which we have been scrambling

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Clive Ansell — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 23:15:50 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241145#241145"]Do you go to the loo at work and take your own bog roll?[/quote]

Since you ask, I have done in the past.

I did a locum many years ago and the only loo roll available seemed like the local council cheapo greaseproof (There used to be a brand named Izal). Soft, strong and thoroughly absorbant it was most definitely not. I resorted to buying my own.

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Clive Ansell — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 23:07:36 GMT

[quote userid="12113" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241146#241146"]We are a corporate practice, for those who believe corporates are all about squeezing the lifeblood out.[/quote]

I don't automatically think that.

Some of the worst practices with the worst of working conditions that I have seen on my locum travels are independent ones.

I am working at a branch clinic of a group taken over by a corporate at the moment. Many of the employed vets and nurses say how their working conditions have improved since corporate take over; pay rises, especially for nurses, better pension, private health care, additional holidays, fixed working week, now get sheduled breaks, finish on time.

The idea that corporate = bad , and independent = good, isn't true at all.

[quote userid="12113" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241146#241146"]They can and they do provide their own. But these things don’t always happen to schedule and you may be caught short. I want my staff to feel comfortable and supported at work. And yes, we do provide coffee and have paracetamol available as well. [/quote]

Good idea, and you sound like a good boss.

I'm fairly independent and self sufficient, and in my work bag carry things I may need; small wash and personal care kit, first aid kit, spare clothes. Even my own coffee and cafetiere as I prefer particular brands of real coffee and not that instant mullock.

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Joyce Whitehead — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 21:33:17 GMT

We don’t, and don’t have plans to do so. However, I know that if someone was caught short they would ask another member of staff and would be sorted out. We do provide tea, (good) coffee, milk, sugar and copious amounts of biscuits. All essentials to staff happiness. Paracetamol is also available.

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Ceri Gruffudd Jones — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 18:34:28 GMT

They can and they do provide their own. But these things don’t always happen to schedule and you may be caught short. I want my staff to feel comfortable and supported at work. And yes, we do provide coffee and have paracetamol available as well.

I LIKE all my staff and want them to be happy at work. And if they are happy, they work better and are willing to give a bit more when it gets tough - offer to cover shifts and swap around to accommodate illness or time off, help a junior colleague learn a new procedure, spread the word when we have a job ad out that we actually care about the team and don’t view them as fee generating units.

We are a corporate practice, for those who believe corporates are all about squeezing the lifeblood out.

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 18:15:17 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30610/does-your-practice-provide-free-tampons-towels/241144#241144"]Why can't people provide their own?[/quote]

Do you go to the loo at work and take your own bog roll?

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Clive Ansell — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 18:14:19 GMT

Why?

Why can't people provide their own?

Where does it stop; shaving products? toothpaste? shampoo? coffee? pies? paracetamol?

RE: Does your practice provide free tampons / towels?

Ceri Gruffudd Jones — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 11:38:14 GMT

Yes, we do. Have done for a year or so. We also provide fruit in the staff room and a snack box for OOH staff.