Ambulance staff benefit from initiative boosting wellbeing and reducing single-use waste

A staff-led initiative at North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) is improving workplace support while helping reduce single-use waste across the service, after what began as a small, practical effort to keep essential products stocked quickly grew into a trust-wide initiative improving support and reducing single-use waste.

The project started informally when Becca Lennox, an Emergency Medical Advisor in the trust’s contact centre, introduced emergency menstruation boxes across sites and found herself regularly topping them up.

What began as a practical effort to make sure supplies were available soon highlighted both the level of demand and the limitations of relying on disposable products, prompting her to explore alternatives such as reusable period underwear that could reduce single-use plastic, improve comfort and support colleagues living with endometriosis, adenomyosis and incontinence.

“I hadn’t planned this as a project, I just wanted to make sure people had what they needed. But seeing how quickly the boxes emptied made me realise how much support staff really needed.”

Becca Lennox, Emergency Medical Advisor, NWAS.

Becca’s interest in alternatives to disposable products wasn’t limited to work. At home, she was helping her daughter through puberty and wanted options that would be more comfortable and practical. “My daughter was going through puberty and she’s autistic, so we were looking into alternatives to pads,” she says. Encouraged by positive reviews for reusable period underwear from other parents, Becca tried a few pairs herself.

What followed was a simple experiment that quickly revealed a much bigger demand. Becca had bought only 10 or 15 pairs of reusable underwear and sent a brief email around her Liverpool site, offering them to colleagues – whether for their own use or for their children. The response was immediate and overwhelming, she explains.

“My emails went crazy,” she recalls. “I was completely gobsmacked – I’d expected maybe a handful of replies, but I got hundreds. It was clear there was a real need for something practical, not just for me but for staff across the trust.”

For Becca, that response reinforced what she had already begun to see – that there was a clear, unmet need for practical support that went beyond what was currently available. On average, someone who menstruates will have around 12 periods a year, lasting roughly five days, and may use between four and five tampons a day. Over the course of a year, that equates to around 250 to 300 products, rising to thousands over a lifetime.

She continued buying small batches herself, but it soon became clear that demand was far beyond what she could manage alone. When the North West Ambulance Trust Charity learned what she was doing, they stepped in to provide support. Rather than being reimbursed, Becca suggested using that help to expand the project so it could reach more staff.

Through a shared values scheme with reusable underwear brand Modibodi, the charity was able to fund larger orders at a reduced cost, allowing the initiative to scale. Two distributions of 250 pairs have now taken place, meaning hundreds of staff across the trust have been able to access the products.

The underwear itself is designed using breathable materials such as merino wool, bamboo and microfibre, with different absorbency levels available. On average, a single pair can hold the equivalent of four to five tampons, with higher absorbency options holding significantly more, reducing the need for frequent changes during long shifts.

Although the initiative started with menstruation in mind, its impact has reached far beyond that. Becca has heard from a wide range of colleagues, from parents supporting their children to staff navigating different stages of hormonal health. The products have also proved useful for those experiencing menopause-related symptoms, such as light incontinence, offering extra reassurance during long shifts. In ambulance settings, where staff can work 12 hours or more with limited access to facilities, that kind of practical support can make a real difference day to day.

Alongside the immediate benefits, the initiative has helped shift conversations within the trust. Menstruation is often treated as something to be managed quietly in operational roles, with experiences comparable to those reported by women in the military. Becca’s project has brought these conversations out into the open, with support from staff networks and internal promotion, while also providing practical support for frontline and control room staff, where long shifts and unpredictable workloads can make managing symptoms challenging.

The project also reflects a wider shift across UK ambulance services. Several organisations, including the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust and the Scottish Ambulance Service, have recently become recognised as endometriosis-friendly employers, highlighting a growing focus on supporting staff living with women’s health conditions.

Becca’s motivation comes from her own experience. She has lived with severe endometriosis since the age of 16 and underwent a hysterectomy four years ago to manage the condition, though it is not a cure. That lived experience has shaped her understanding of how small, practical changes in the workplace can make a real difference to comfort, confidence and the ability to do the job.

The initiative also contributes to wider sustainability goals. Disposable sanitary products generate significant plastic waste and contribute to landfill, while reusable alternatives offer a more consistent, environmentally friendly option for staff.

What began as a small act of kindness, buying a handful of products and sending a simple email, has grown into a project supporting hundreds of employees across the trust. For Becca, it is a reminder that meaningful change does not always start with a formal programme or large-scale plan, but often with noticing a need and taking the first step to address it.

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This article is part of #SheServesToo, our campaign celebrating the stories of women across the emergency services. If you have a story to share, get in touch with the EST team here.