New Changing Places Toilet opens at Royal Brompton Hospital

Royal Brompton Hospital has opened a fully accessible Changing Places toilet for patients, visitors and staff, meaning that all four hospitals in the Trust now have one of these important facilities.

Changing Places toilets, which are specially equipped for people with learning and physical disabilities and their carers, are now located at Royal Brompton, Harefield, Guy’s and St Thomas’ and are included on the Changing Places Toilets website.

This latest facility, located in Royal Brompton’s Chelsea Wing, was visited by Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Councillor Sarah Addenbrooke.

Councillor Addenbrooke recently broke a hip and had been using a wheelchair herself, so she said she understood only too well how important accessibility was.

Unlike a standard accessible toilet, Changing Places toilets offer more space and can accommodate two carers and another person. They also include a height adjustable toilet, height adjustable sink, an adult-sized changing bench, a hoist and shower.

Ras Kahai, a highly specialist respiratory dietitian, has led the campaign to get Changing Places toilets installed at Royal Brompton and at Harefield, as part of her work co-chairing the hospitals’ Disability and Wellness Network (DAWN).

“Dignity and independence for most people are taken for granted but disabled people have to fight for them every day. So this Changing Places toilet is so important because it provides these basic human rights for all of our patients and staff,” said Ras.

Robert Craig, director of operations for the clinical group that runs Royal Brompton, is also executive sponsor of DAWN. He said: “This is not just about opening a bathroom facility, but about opening up more and more of our estate to an accessible, modern standard. DAWN must be congratulated for their dedicated efforts in helping us reach this significant achievement.”

The new Changing Places toilet at Royal Brompton is located on ‘Level 3’ of Chelsea Wing (near the Link Bridge), and is accessible from the main entrance in Sydney Street and from the Diagnostic Centre. Harefield’s Changing Places toilet is next to the restaurant, The Hungry Hare, opposite the main hospital entrance. They are both open every day from 8am-6pm.

Visit the Changing Places website for more information.