Sanitary bins for men with incontinence are set to be installed in Dumfries and Galloway Council toilets after councillors unanimously backed the move last week.
This move comes in response to calls from prostate cancer campaigners and the “Bog Standard” collaboration between Prostate Cancer UK and the Personal Hygiene Services (PHS) Group.
This joint campaign aims to improve research and support for those diagnosed with prostate cancer with a goal of ensuring male hygiene bins are available in public toilets.
North West Dumfries councillor Andy Ferguson tabled a motion at last week’s full council meeting calling for the local authority to set up ‘bins for boys’ across the 58 council-run public toilets in the region.
He said: “I have to be honest and declare a family interest as I’m in what Prostate Cancer UK calls an at-risk category – because my father and his brother both died from prostate cancer.
“So that puts me at the very high risk end.
“If I could live my life over I would have, or I should say I should have seen the signs with my father who hid his symptoms.
“We all now know that early identification increases the success rate of overcoming what is the most common cancer rate in men.
“Urinary incontinence is just one of the side effects of prostate cancer, but incontinence is not the sole domain of prostate cancer. There are many other reasons.”
One in three men over 65 are estimated to have a urinary incontinence problem in the UK, with one in 25 men aged over 40 experiencing some form of urinary leakage every year.
Furthermore, the NHS estimate that between three and six million people in the UK suffer with some degree of urinary incontinence.
Councillor Ferguson said his motion was to ensure that men of all ages “have the same dignity if they are unfortunate enough to be incontinent or are suffering side effects” of prostate health issues.
He then highlighted research which shows that men are missing out on activities and suffering mental health problems because of poor or non-existent sanitary disposal facilities in public.
Councillors unanimously backed the motion which endorses Prostate Cancer’s efforts for wider access to male sanitary bins. It was also agreed that the council will include bins in council public toilets as and when funds become available,
An project progress report is to be delivered by council officers within six months.