Over £500,000 has been given to 10 NHS Trusts in England today (January 24) to build new Changing Places toilets for severely disabled people. The funding is expected to more than double the number of Changing Places toilets in NHS hospitals across England and will enable those Trusts to start work immediately on 16 new facilities.
Changing Places are toilets with additional equipment for people who are not able to use the toilet independently, including adult-sized changing benches and hoists. People with severe disabilities, such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis, and their carers, say Changing Places facilities can be life changing and allow them to go out in public or attend hospital appointments without fear or stress.
Today’s announcement is a start, but Minister for Care Caroline Dinenage says the NHS still has a long way to go. “I expect every hospital development to include a Changing Places facility in their future plans,” she says.
This is the first share of funding; there is a further £1.5 million available to bid for*. It is hoped that the number of Changing Places facilities in England’s hospitals will eventually increase to over 100.
The announcement forms part of cross-government work to improve accessibility, which would see Changing Places toilets added to more than 150 new buildings a year, including shopping centres, supermarkets, cinemas, stadiums and arts venues. A consultation was launched last year and the response is expected in spring.
Caroline Dinenage says: “People with severe disabilities deserve to live with dignity and independence, but lack of access to adequate toilet facilities can be a huge challenge. Hospitals, like all public spaces, have a duty to cater for people with disabilities – who risk discomfort, embarrassment and even injury without access to a Changing Place.
“This funding will make a real difference to tens of thousands of people and their carers who use NHS hospitals and I am delighted that Trusts can begin building work as soon as possible, with further funding still available.”
Trusts receiving funding today are:
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust £105,000
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust £51,000
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust £34,000
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust £35,000
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust £40,000
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust £35,000
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust £97,000
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust £60,000
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals £50,000
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust£17,000
* Click here for the prospectus and application forms to apply for funding
