Disabled patients, visitors and carers at Stepping Hill Hospital now have additional support thanks to new specialist changing and toilet facilities on the site.
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust’s capital projects team have worked together with building contractors Tilbury Douglas to build the new Changing Places facilities, which are now open and providing support on site.
The majority of funding for the project, as well as labour, has come from Tilbury Douglas and their supply chain, with additional funding for the project also being provided by Stockport NHS Charity. Local consultants and contractors have also supported the project.
Representatives of Tilbury Douglas paid a visit to the new facilities to help declare them open.
Changing Places is a charity working across the UK to make toilet and changing facilities more accessible to the quarter of a million people across the country who need them.
Standard accessible toilets do not always meet the needs of all disabled people or their personal assistants. They do not provide changing benches or hoists, and most are too small to accommodate more than one person. Without these facilities, disabled people can feel that they lose their dignity and become isolated as they are unable to enjoy many public facilities that non-disabled people take for granted.
The new facilities in the Changing Places room at the hospital includes a height-adjustable adult-sized changing bench, height adjustable hand wash and tracking hoist system to provide improved support. With more room, it also provides adequate space in the changing area for the disabled person and up to two personal assistants, as well as a centrally placed toilet with room either side to allow access for assistance.
It also includes a screen to provide the disabled person and personal assistants additional privacy, a non slip floor, and a safe clean environment including a large waste bin for disposable pads and shelving for colostomy bags.
The facility, located near the Poplar Grove entrance to the hospital, is open 24/7 and can be accessed by a RADAR key. Those without a RADAR key can also access by asking at the volunteers desk in the nearby Oak House entrance (near Costa Coffee).
A well as funding for the project from Tilbury Douglas and Stockport NHS Charity, donations for the project have also been receive from the consultant and contractor partners; O’Neil and Partners, Wallace Whittle, C4 Architects, Alan Johnston Partnership Ltd, JPR Asbestos Services, A Copeland Group Ltd and Meel Group.
Michelle Waddicor, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Head of Capital Projects said; “It’s very important that disabled visitors and patients at the hospital, together with their families and carers, have the same rights to the dignified changing and toilets and facilities which the rest of us take for granted. We’re delighted we’re now able to provide this. Our supply chain partners, under the guidance of my colleague Capital Projects Manager James Lee have worked hard to complete this project, and I’d like to thank the generosity of Tilbury Douglas, Stockport NHS Charity and all our local suppliers and donors who have helped to make it possible.”
Martin Horne, Regional Director, Tilbury Douglas said; “Tilbury Douglas is proud to have delivered these vital Changing Places facilities at Stepping Hill Hospital. Working in partnership with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and our supply chain, we’ve helped create a space that promotes dignity and independence for patients and visitors with accessibility needs. Building on our recent delivery of the new emergency care campus, it’s a privilege to continue supporting improvements to the hospital’s facilities for everyone who uses them.”
Kate Leadbeater, Stockport NHS Charity Manager said; “Stockport NHS Charity are very proud to have played a part in providing support for this vital service for our community.”
