A MAN campaigning to help women in poverty obtain sanitary products on prescription says he is disappointed with the Department of Health's response to his efforts.

Darlington Salvation Army (DSA) minister Colin Bradshaw launched the Begging for a Tampon campaign after meeting poverty-stricken women using socks and newspapers to stem their monthly flow.

The campaign calls on the Government and the NHS to make sanitary products available on prescription or via a voucher scheme.

The Department of Health has now responded in a letter that says the NHS should not be expected to provide for families’ “normal day-to-day living expenses”.

Major Bradshaw began providing sanitary products at the DSA emergency food bank after finding vulnerable women were putting their health at risk by using makeshift solutions to deal with periods.

After lobbying every female MP in the UK, Major Bradshaw’s campaign recently reached the Houses of Parliament.

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman put forward an Early Day Motion backed by signatures from 22 MPs asking for sanitary products to be available on prescription or via a voucher scheme.

However, a letter from Nicholas Curry – in charge of ministerial correspondence and public enquiries for the Department of Health – suggests change will not be immediately forthcoming.

He said: “As the NHS provides treatment for people who are physically or mentally unwell, sanitary products are not something that would be provided for free.

“As I hope you will understand, the NHS needs to prioritise the use of its resources carefully and cannot provide for women’s and families’ normal day-to-day needs.”

Major Bradshaw said he was greatly disappointed by the DfH’s response to the plight of vulnerable women living with “secret shame”.

He said: “We’ve had women admit to using socks, handkerchiefs and newspapers because they cannot afford tampons.

“This can result in regular infections needing antibiotics and in extreme cases, hospital treatment, simply because they’re trapped in poverty – the cost for treatment must far outweigh the cost of sanitary products.

“In their secret shame they have to come begging for a tampon at our foodbank.

“The Department for Health is potentially putting women’s health at risk and we’re greatly disappointed by their response.”

He added: “We hope every MP will realise the seriousness of this situation and we beg them to make 2016 the year when no woman trapped in poverty will have to beg for a tampon again.”