NURSES are being forced to donate their own sanitary towels to hospital patients, NHS Scotland bosses have admitted.

Not one of Scotland’s health boards has a policy on providing sanitary products to in-patients, according to research conducted by Scottish Labour.

Health spokeswoman Monica Lennon, who made today’s revelation after submitting Freedom of Information requests to the authorities, said it was “unacceptable and must change.”

The responses from health boards showed patients are generally expected to bring their own sanitary protection products, ask family and carers to supply them or buy them from hospital shops.

But nurses are also frequently expected to step in themselves in emergencies.

NHS Dumfries & Galloway said that in situations of immediate need “nurses would help by providing from their personal supplies” or, “if necessary, nurses will run into town, either using petty cash or the patient pays for it.”

Ms Lennon, who is pushing for legal rights to sanitary protection in the Scottish Parliament, said: “It should be the case that sanitary products are freely available in hospital bathrooms for anyone who needs them.

“Despite the expectation from some health boards that women should always be prepared, periods can be unpredictable and illness can affect the menstrual cycle.

“It beggars belief that NHS chiefs don’t understand this and expect nurses to go into their own purses or leave the ward to run to the nearest shop to maintain the dignity of patients.”

The Ayrshire & Arran board admitted that it often offered women a “small incontinence pad” as an alternative to sanitary products on all wards except for maternity units. NHS Grampian said it could provide a “suitable alternative product” to a sanitary towel or tampon.

Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “We would expect boards to provide sanitary products to all those in hospital who need them as it is unacceptable that anyone in Scotland should be unable to access these items.

“We would encourage all public-sector bodies to consider what action they can take to ensure that those who menstruate do not have to face the situation of not having the products they need.

“We have already committed to ensuring those at school, college and university have access to free sanitary products by the new academic term in August.”