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Hospital opens state-of-the-art toilet facility
Patients with complex disabilities are set to benefit from state-of-the-art toilet facilities at West Suffolk Hospital thanks to the completion of a new Changing Places facility on the site.
Changing Places are toilets with additional equipment for people who are not able to use the toilet independently, including adult-sized changing benches and hoists. Disabled patients and their carers visiting the West Suffolk Hospital will now have access to these.
The Trust received funding from the government towards the project in 2020 which was match-funded by the hospital’s My WiSH Charity to make it possible.
Craig Black, interim chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have been given the chance to establish a Changing Places facility within our hospital. Patients with a wide range of both physical and mental disabilities will now be able to benefit from this new space. It will allow them to use the toilet safely and comfortably while maintaining their dignity. We’re proud to continue improving our facilities for the local community.
“We thank the Department of Health and Social Care for recognising how important it is to have easily-accessible toilet facilities for those that need it. It has been an honour to be working alongside our friends at My WiSH Charity who are generously match-funding the figure to make this a reality.”
Sue Smith, head of fundraising at My WiSH Charity, added: “We are very proud to support the Changing Places facility installation at the heart of the hospital. We have wanted to be able to provide this for a long time, and with the extra funding we are able to.
“The remaining money needed to fund this vital project came from a legacy someone generously left to our hospital. We are so grateful to that family for making this possible, and to all our generous fundraisers.”
Julie Fountain, carers lead at the Trust added: “The establishment of a Changing Places facility within the hospital is very important for people with additional needs who will benefit from the added equipment and space, but also for their carers.
“Being in a hospital setting can be a very stressful situation for anyone, including carers, so the opening of these fantastic facilities will make a huge difference.”
The Changing Places facility is accessed by using a RADAR key from the RADAR key scheme. An additional key is kept at main reception at the hospital site.
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