The DHSC announced in 2018 that it would provide £2 million for these fully-accessible facilities, and this marks the first round of successful bids.
Applications are now open for the next round of funding, with nearly £1.5 million still available to NHS trusts.
What does Muscular Dystrophy UK think of this?
As co-chairs of the Changing Places Consortium, we’re encouraged to see some hospitals taking steps to being more accessible for disabled patients and visitors. But too many hospitals still don’t have a Changing Places toilet, and we won’t stop campaigning until they do.
Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive of Muscular Dystrophy UK, which co-chairs the Changing Places Consortium, said:
When a hospital doesn’t have a Changing Places toilet, disabled people may struggle to attend important medical appointments or visit family and friends. This is unacceptable, and not only puts their health at risk but can leave them isolated.
We’re pleased that 10 hospital trusts have successfully applied for funding to install Changing Places toilets, but more need to follow their example. We strongly encourage all those who haven’t already done so to commit to being more inclusive and apply for a share of the DHSC’s funding.
How can you get involved?
- Contact your local hospital to encourage it to apply for funding, if it hasn’t already. You can see which 54 hospitals have a Changing Places toilet here, and those that have applied for funding below.
- Share the news on Twitter, using the hashtag #ChangingPlaces
- Share your story with us, and tell us why Changing Places are important to you
Which hospitals have received funding?
The following NHS trusts have received a share of the funding. Some trusts have been successful in applying for more than one facility.
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
- Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
- United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
What happens next?
The hospitals that have successfully applied for funding will install their facilities, which will then be registered by the Changing Places Consortium.
Meanwhile, applications will be accepted from NHS trusts here.