Spalding family calls for better toilet facilities for terminally ill mum
A petition has been launched as part of a wider campaign
A Spalding mum living with terminal cancer has been left distressed by the lack of accessible toilets at Peterborough Hospital.
Liz Taylor - who relies on a wheelchair and needs a hoist faces hours-long appointments without suitable restroom facilities, a situation her family says causes unnecessary upset.
'It's a basic human right'
“These toilets are so important, not only just for my mum, but for many people who have complex disabilities," Kristina Taylor, Liz's daughter, said.
"That means they require a hoist or even an adult size changing table; it’s a basic human right to access a toilet facility.”
Kristina and her sister have started a petition calling for a ‘Changing Places’ bathroom at the hospital, equipped with a hoist and adult-sized changing table.
“It’s important that we advocate for hospitals all over the UK to have an accessible toilet facility when visiting," Kristina said.
"There shouldn’t be an added upset of not being able to access a toilet.”
Experience 'incredibly upsetting'
Kristina said families have had to change loved ones on dirty toilet floors due to lack of suitable facilities, calling the experience “incredibly upsetting.
“My mum’s had incredibly upsetting situations herself where she’s been unable to access even a mobile hoist in the hospital, and there isn’t a toilet accessible, so she’s been reduced to tears because of the indignity she feels in having accidents.”
The campaign is part of a wider push to improve dignity and support for people with severe disabilities in hospitals across the UK.
Charlotte Williams, deputy chief executive at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust which runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford and Rutland Hospitals, has apologised to patients and visitors.
“Due to limited space we don’t currently have Changing Places at our sites, but we are actively exploring if and how we can implement these in our trust in the future," she said.
"It is really important to us that our facilities meet the needs of all of our service users.”
A petition for the campaign can be found on Change.org.