Several constituents have written to me regarding the campaign being run by Prostate Cancer UK to raise awareness of the need for men and boys with incontinence to have access to sanitary waste bins. I completely understand that telling men to use a disabled toilet to accommodate their needs is not a satisfactory solution for many.
This campaign is primarily a public health and healthcare issue, and we will be guided by the views of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on whether it considers that sanitary bins should be provided in men’s toilets.
I also understand that Prostate Cancer UK will be publishing a report on the national provision of toilet facilities later this year, and Government will certainly consider their findings and any recommendations they make at that point.
The Government has been working to update the building regulations and associated guidance around toilet provision since 2020. In 2022, a call for evidence around toilet provision was launched by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and I know that the Government is committed to undertaking further technical consultations on both these workstreams in due course.
When these consultations are concluded, responses will be considered before the next steps and any policy changes are announced.
I hope this update is useful and you can read more about my work with prostate cancer here:
