Member of the Senedd for Monmouth, Peter Fox, has called for a statement on the supply of male incontinence products from the Welsh Government.
On Tuesday, the Monmouth MS raised concerns about male incontinence pads being replaced with pants, under the guise of Welsh Government sustainability targets.
Mr Fox explained the change to pants poses real-world challenges, particularly for those working outdoors or in layered protective clothing, such as farmers, significantly affecting their dignity.
Patients have reported that only 4-6 pairs of pants are being issues, which is nowhere near enough, and many who are unable to tolerate the change are having to spend hundreds of pounds a month to buy the pads privately.
Mr Fox highlighted the fact that care homes and hospitals are continuing to use disposable pads, and that washing pants daily will require an increase in laundering, both of which significantly undermine the “environmental argument.”
He closed by calling for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on the issue, and asked the Welsh Government what price they were willing to put on men’s dignity.
Local MS for Monmouth, Peter Fox, has said:
“Around 34,000 men in Wales are living with or after prostate cancer, and around a third of those who needed to undergo surgery as part of their treatment require incontinence products.
“That is a huge amount of patients who are impacted by such a change, which has also been made without any prior consultation, or assessment of what people actually need.
“The reasoning given is due to environmental targets, but it begs the question if this should come before the well-being and dignity of patients. I think we all know the answer to that!
“I hope the Welsh Government re-visit this quickly, and ask themselves what price they are willing to put on dignity”.
