Key to the delivery of the Equality Act 2010 is the availability of Changing Places Toilets, which go beyond the provision of standard accessible toilets and are designed so that everyone, regardless of their access needs or impairment, or reliance on the assistance of carers or specialist equipment, can use a toilet facility with dignity and hygienically.
They are larger accessible toilets, with equipment such as hoists, curtains, adult-sized changing benches and space for carers.
Speaking here in 2019 on the Changing Places campaign, I stated that although this was launched in 2006, I had just attended a Changing Places steering group meeting, focused on bringing Changing Places into the North East Wales counties, hopefully starting with the town of Mold – where a campaign for a Changing Places toilet in the Daniel Owen Centre still continues now.
“It was chaired by Kim Edwards, who herself has Friedreich's ataxia.
She said that, “the lack of current facilities means that disabled people don't go out.
“Providing a proper changing place provides all the space and equipment needed to avoid people being changed on an unhygienic floor, not changed at all, or even not going out into the community in the first place.”
“It was then already 16 years since I had first heard this raised in this place, and yet people like Kim are still having to fight these campaigns 19 years later.
Questioning the First Minister here last month, I stated:
“TCC, Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru - Together Creating Communities, a group of dedicated community leaders from organisations across Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire, have joined together to take action on the issue of Changing Places Toilets.
“They say that, despite assurances regarding their provision over successive Welsh Governments, there are still only around 50 Changing Places Toilets in the whole of Wales”.
When I then asked the First Minister “when will the Welsh Government enable people in Wales who are not able to use standard accessible toilets to have their basic human needs and equality rights met; to enjoy a day out without the stress of worrying about accessing toilet facilities; and thereby to increase their independence and overall health and well-being”.
He replied that “The responsibilities in this area lie with local authorities … Welsh Government officials are tracking the money that has been made available to local authorities”.
However, as the Welsh Government confirmed to me in a Written Answer, they do not have a specific fund for the delivery of Changing Places Toilets.
Further, TCC state that the Welsh Government guidance issued to local authorities in Wales is not being followed consistently, and that the result to date has been disappointing.
In contrast, the UK Government has launched a Changing Places toilets programme, with a dedicated £30 million fund for Local Authorities in every part of England to help increase the number of Changing Places toilets there.
Hence our motion “Calls on the Welsh Government to provide a suitable funding mechanism and clear guidance to local authorities to ensure there is equitable provision of Changing Places toilets in every county in Wales”.
TCC state that if, for example, “the Welsh Government could commit to at least match-funding 1 Changing Place Toiler per county, a national group purchase order could be secured at a rough cost of only £275,000, £25,000 each, equivalent to just over 1 pound per disabled person in the country”.
The Social Model of Disability says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment, and the lack of basic facilities such as these are leaving people, disabled, trapped, isolated and dependant on others.
I have even heard of parents of disabled children being issued changing mats by their Occupational Therapists to be used on the floor in a public accessible toilet.
Although Crohn’s & Colitis UK rightly state that, “There needs to be better awareness of invisible disabilities so everyone can understand why someone with Crohn’s or Colitis needs to use the toilet urgently”, standard accessible toilets do not meet the needs of all disabled people.
Changing Places facilities also have an economic benefit, attracting disabled people and their families to use shops, tourist attractions and hospitality venues.
Disabled families could contribute a huge amount to the economy, where the UK Purple Pound, the spending power of disabled households, is worth £274 billion.
The lack of Changing Places is a social justice issue, a public health issue, a Local Government issue, a building regulations issue, and a disability rights issue – and I therefore call on members to support, and the Welsh Government to act, on our motion.