- Conference
- 2024 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 12 October 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Employers are using COVID as an excuse to avoid addressing the menopause.
UNISON and the TUC have made great strides in breaking down the menopause stigma, however, we feel that this work has now been majorly overshadowed by COVID-19 and employers are once again disregarding the impact the menopause can have on Women, their partners and their families. We find ourselves almost back to square one – powerless in obtaining the rights to work in a healthy and dignified environment.
Whilst every NHS worker across the country is going over and above for our beloved NHS, COVID writes itself firmly into our history books and women across the UK are being left behind to suffer.
Women make up 77% of the workforce in the NHS but research suggests that women are still the minority in senior roles. Without women to influence change, behaviour and culture there is a clear lack of adequate facilities and lack of menopause awareness across the NHS.
Uniforms are just one example demonstrating this. They are made of thick heavy cotton which is uncomfortable, rough and unpleasant in the best conditions. With the removal of fans and air circulation units on wards; the extreme heat, coupled with hot flashes and an added layer of PPE is unbearable.
Conference calls for the National Womens Committee to work with:
UNISON and TUC to call for an:
– An urgent review of women’s uniforms in the NHS
– An introduction of seasonal uniforms to allow for lighter cotton for periods of hot weather or at times individual women are struggling with symptoms, for uniforms which don’t reveal sweat patches.
– Adequate and in-depth research around PPE for women
– A specific discussion about the fitting of both uniforms and PPE for women
Cymru Wales Women’s Committee