PAMIS are involved in several different campaigns. One of these campaigns is the Changing Places toilets. PAMIS are currently involved in a big campaign to bring more Changing Places toilets to the UK. Standard accessible toilets meet the needs of some disabled people. However, 230,000 people living in the UK need personal assistance to use the toilet or change continence pads. They and their families or carers need Changing Places toilets to be able to take part in their communities. Many cannot leave their homes as the places that they want to go do not meet their basic needs. A Changing Places toilet provides the right equipment – a height adjustable changing bench and a tracking hoist system or mobile hoist; enough space – adequate space in the changing area for the disabled person and up to two carers, a centrally placed toilet with room wither side for the carers and a screen or curtain to allow the disabled person and carer some privacy; a safe and clean environment – wide tear off paper roll to cover the bench, a large waste bin for disposable pads and a non-slip floor.
Changing Places toilets should be installed in as many venues and locations as possible so that disabled people, elderly people and anyone else who needs access to a Changing Places toilet can go to the places that they enjoy and still have their basic needs met. Currently, these people need to either be changed on dirty bathroom floors or cannot leave their homes. This is not fair for people to have to live their lives this way.
PAMIS are campaigning for more Changing Places toilets around Scotland as well as a mobile one. If there was a mobile Changing Places toilet then venues would be able to hire this toilet like they do normal toilets when they put events on. This would mean that people that need these toilets would be able to go to more events across the country.
In February 2009, Changing Places toilets were included in the British Standards BS8300, this means that they should be included in all new larger buildings and complexes such as large railway stations and airports, sports and leisure facilities, shopping centres and health facilities such as hospitals. This is great for all building that have been built since this time but there still needs to be more done to get these toilets into older buildings and places. Currently, there is only ten Changing Places toilets in Dundee. Even though this may not seem a lot when you compare this to the number of toilets in Scotland’s other big cities it is very good. Glasgow has the same number of Changing Places toilets as Dundee but Edinburgh and Aberdeen have nine and seven respectfully. Since these cities are much bigger than Dundee they should have several more since even the amount in Dundee is not enough.
Big venues such as Murrayfield Rugby Stadium and Blair Drummond Safari Park have Changing Places toilets. This means that events and days out can be enjoyed by entire families because the basic needs of a disabled family member has been met. There needs to be more Changing Places toilets across the whole of the UK so that families can go wherever they want to go without worrying that the correct facilities will not be available to them.
Several organisations (including PAMIS) under the name the Changing Places Consortium are still campaigning for more Changing Places toilets so that the basic needs of disabled and elderly people are met.
This is an example of a Changing Places toilet.
References
Changing Places Consortium (no date) Changing places, changing lives. [Leaflet obtained from PAMIS Dundee], Date obtained: 30th March 2017.
PAMIS (no date) A Directory of Changing Places Toilets in Scotland. [Leaflet obtained from PAMIS Dundee], Date obtained: 30th March 2017.
