A Dundee-based charity demanding more facilities for people who need personal assistance to use public conveniences has launched its latest campaign.
PAMIS staff, service users and their families are calling for 100 “changing place” standard toilet facilities to be established across Scotland this year.
There are nine ‘changing places’ toilets in Dundee, with locations including both universities and the Windmill Gardens in Broughty Ferry. However, there are only 83 across the whole of Scotland.
Alex and Christine Thomson from Dundee, whose daughter Elaine, 30, suffers from the neuro-developmental disorder microcephaly, attended the campaign launch.
As a result of her condition, Elaine is wheelchair-bound, is unable to communicate and needs 24-hour care. She lives in supported accommodation and her family care for her overnight once a month and take her out every weekend.
Alex said: “Often when we’re out with Elaine the only facilities available are for baby changing, which means we have to change her while she stands.
“If she had a bed to lie on, the experience would be much more dignified and comfortable for her and a lot less stressful for us.
“As my wife and I have got older, we are less able to look after Elaine physically as she is a fully grown woman and we have difficulty supporting her weight.”
Assisted changing toilets known as changing places are different to disabled toilets as they contain specialist equipment including hoists and adult-sized changing benches to allow those with complex disabilities to visit public conveniences more comfortably. Extra space is also incorporated to accommodate up to two carers.
PAMIS, which is based at Dundee University, aims to ensure there is at least one public toilet built to the changing places standard in every town centre with a population greater than 15,000 and within each new public building such as shopping centres, concert halls and railway stations.
More than 230,000 people across the UK are estimated to require personal assistance to use the toilet.
Elizabeth McBride, PAMIS Futures project officer, said: “To mark our 20th anniversary we are calling for at least 100 changing places facilities to be established across Scotland this year, and we hope that in the future we will see the addition of many more.
“All over the country disabled people and their families miss out on everyday activities because of a lack of suitable facilities. People have to either change their loved ones on dirty toilet floors or simply not go out.
“The number of people with complex disabilities is growing and we are all living longer so more people are likely to need access to changing place toilets in the future.”
As part of its campaign, PAMIS is distributing a new directory of changing places toilets. To obtain a copy or have facilities added go to pamis.org.uk