NEWS
Changing Places toilets to be mandatory
in new, large public buildings in England
All large new buildings in England will have to include Changing
Places toilets from next year.
It means that new shopping centres, sports stadiums and arts
venues will have to include them when they are designed and built,
affecting an estimated 150 new buildings a year.
There are currently over 1,400 Changing Places toilets in use
around the UK. New large buildings in Scotland have been required
to include Changing Places facilities since a planning law change
last year.
Changing Places toilets have more room than a standard
accessible toilet, with specialist equipment such as an adult-sized
changing bench and a hoist system.
UK.
They are needed by more than a quarter of a million people in the
More funding is also being made available to install Changing
Places facilities in motorway service stations, meaning that 87 of
England’s 118 service stations will have Changing Places facilities
installed.
RCOT supported the change in England’s rules during a
consultation process in order to promote social inclusion.
Without access to Changing Places toilets, more than a quarter
of a million people may not go out, will limit fluid intake, or will have
to be changed on a toilet floor.
Kerry Thompson, a Changing Places toilets user from Milton
Keynes, said: ‘This is incredible news. Having access to more
Changing Places toilets means freedom. For not just myself, but the
250,000 other disabled people and their families. Having this muchneeded
change to building regulations guidance will make life easier
and more fulfilling. It opens up a whole new world for everyone that
needs these life-changing facilities. All these changes are helping
myself and thousands of others to live the life that we choose, not
one that is chosen for us.’
For more information including maps of open facilities visit:
www.changingplaces.org.
NEWS IN BRIEF
DR KEE HEAN LIM ELECTED ON
BAOT/RCOT COUNCIL
Dr Kee Hean Lim has been announced as the
new Council Member, International Affairs (World
Federation of Occupational Therapists) following
a ballot of members. Civica Election Services
reported that 3,951 out of 32,938 members eligible
to vote took part in the ballot. This represented
a turnout of 12 per cent, a slight increase on the
11.9 per cent of members who voted in the last
ballot. Dr Lim received 1,440 votes, Dr Yvonne
Thomas received 1,322 votes (and as she obtained
the second highest number of recorded votes is
therefore elected as alternate to the WFOT member
as per Council rules), Marjorie Gardner received
1,179 votes and 10 votes were ruled invalid. The
new term of office will start at the AGM. BAOT/
RCOT Council congratulates Dr Lim on his election
and thanks candidates for their willingness to serve
the membership.
FUNDING PROPOSALS INVITED
AROUND SCOTLAND’S
NEUROLOGICAL FRAMEWORK
Funding proposals are being sought around
Scotland’s neurological framework, which
was launched in December. The new five-year
framework included a commitment to £4.5 million
of funding. NHS boards, health and social care
partnerships and the independent sector can
all apply. Proposals can be up to the value of £1
million, and applications should be submitted
by 6 September at: www.gov.scot/publications/
neurological-framework-funding.
DR YELIZ PRIOR A WONDER
WOMAN IN RESEARCH
Dr Yeliz Prior has featured in an NHS R&D North
West video series about her work in research. Dr
Prior, a senior research fellow at the University
of Salford and an advanced clinical specialist
occupational therapist at the Mid Cheshire NHS
Trust, featured in the Wonder Women series and
discusses what brought her into rheumatology,
balancing research and her family life, and working
as a woman in research. View the video at:
https://youtu.be/e9miBXKnB-c.
OTnews August 2020 13