Stoma user campaigning to improve Tavistock loos

A woman who uses a stoma bag is making progress in her campaign to make public and private loos more accessible.

Paula Butler, of Tavistock, who set up West Devon Somates, a support group for people with stomas, is working to make public toilets in town squares and buildings (such as hotels, shops, GP surgeries and bus stations) easier for anyone to use.

She says it is important for people such as pregnant women, new mothers, older people and others with prostate or abdominal issues to have properly fitted out toilets.

Her campaign is calling for all accessible toilets to have a shelf, hooks on the back of the door, a full-length mirror, and a bin, along with the standard basin.

Paula now lives with a stoma bag which has improved her life, but made daily life out and about inconvenient when looking for usable toilets.

She said she wanted to make going out easier and less daunting for everyone.

She said: “Practically speaking, changing a stoma bag needs extra space to lay out all the things needed, including cleaning products and for taking off clothing. The shelf also needs to be more hygienic than normal and having a bin is important.

“These needs also apply to other people with bowel and bladder conditions and pregnant and new mums. It all means we can go out with the confidence that there are facilities available.

“It’s stressful at the moment not knowing whether there’s a suitable well-equipped loo nearby when we go out. Otherwise it can lead to people with these conditions staying at home, effectively isolated.“

She has canvassed GP surgeries in Tavistock about demand and two of them have more than 1,200 patients with incontinence, stomas and other related conditions. The charity Colostomy UK, which supports stoma users and their carers, is also supporting her and she is lobbying West Devon Borough councillors to improve the town’s Guildhall car park toilets.

One in 335 people in the UK live with a stoma, an opening on the surface of the abdomen which has been surgically created to divert waste into a detachable bag, often after surgery on the bowel.

Earlier this year, some national chains, such as Morrisons, B&Q, and National Rail, made their loos accessible.

A spokesperson for Colostomy UK said: "Across the UK over 500,000 people have Crohns disease or colitis, a lot of people who would benefit from improved facilities.

"It makes economic sense for businesses to invest relatively small sums because they will more than make it back from people with stomas who have the confidence to visit them.”

The West Devon Stomates support group can be reached [email protected] and at its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1736139607292950/ .

Stomates meets monthly on the last Wednesday at Tavyside Health Centre 10am-12noon.