Call for more Changing Places toilets

Crossbench peer Lord Rix discusses why more Changing Places toilet facilities are needed, ahead of his question in the Lords on Tuesday.

New research published last month from the University of Dundee found that there are up to 230,000 people in the UK who need to use a Changing Places toilet and yet despite this massive demand there are only 85 available across the whole country. This is why I am supporting the campaign by Mencap and the Changing Places Consortium to increase the number of Changing Places toilets accessible for older people and people with a disability.

Standard disabled toilets do not meet the needs of all people with a profound disability whereas Changing Places toilets do, for they have enough space for the disabled person and their carers, the right equipment which includes an adult sized height-adjustable changing bench and a hoist. Without them, people who need support from one or two carers to use the toilet, or to have their continence pad changed, either have to stay at home or their family carers have to resort to changing them on dirty toilet floors. This is dangerous, unhygienic, undignified and physically challenging for the carer.

I am calling on the government to amend Building Regulations Part M to ensure that all major newly-built public buildings provide a Changing Places toilet. This would include major shopping centres, leisure centres and key public buildings. I would also like the government to look at ways we can ensure these Changing Places toilets are built in railway stations and airports across the country.

It is also essential that local authorities understand their obligations, under the Disability Discrimination Act, to promote equality and that this should include the needs of the 40,000 people with profound and multiple learning disabilities who simply cannot access their community without such a toilet.

I know the Commons feels as strongly on this issue as I do as, during Learning Disability Week, over 50 MPs turned out to support the campaign at a parliamentary reception. I hope my colleagues in the Lords will be as supportive and will back my campaign to increase the number of Changing Places toilets available.