People living with a stoma are being failed by UK public toilet design standards.

Current “accessible toilets” are not built with stoma care in mind. They are often missing the basic facilities needed for safe, hygienic, and dignified medical management in public. This affects hundreds of thousands of people across the UK who rely on public toilets to manage a lifelong medical condition.

 
🚨 The problem
Stoma care is not optional — it is essential medical care.

However, most public toilets do not include dedicated ostomy sinks or proper facilities

for stoma management, forcing people into unsuitable, unsafe, or unhygienic conditions.

 
⚠️ What is missing
Public toilets often lack:

Dedicated ostomy sinks or appropriate washing facilities
A clean, stable surface and hooks for medical supplies
A mirror positioned for practical use
A sealed clinical waste bin

Adequate space for safe and private care
Without these, people with a stoma are left without proper support in everyday public spaces.

 
🏛️ What we are asking for
We are calling on the UK Government and local authorities to:

1. Introduce a national standard for stoma-friendly toilets
Including a requirement for dedicated ostomy sinks or equivalent facilities.

2. Require stoma-friendly infrastructure in public toilets
Including: dedicated ostomy sink or suitable washing station
clean, stable shelf or surface with hooks near
accessible mirror
sealed clinical waste bin
adequate space for safe use
3. Improve signage and identification
So people can easily locate toilets suitable for stoma care and to stop stigma

4. Ensure new and refurbished public toilets meet this standard
With gradual upgrades to existing facilities where possible.

 
🌍 Why this matters
People with a stoma should not have to adapt their medical care around poorly designed public infrastructure.

The lack of dedicated ostomy sinks and proper facilities creates unnecessary barriers to independence, dignity, and health.

This is a basic design issue — not a luxury.

 
✍️ Final statement
We are not asking for special treatment.
We are asking for appropriate facilities.

Accessible isn’t enough — we need proper stoma-friendly toilets with dedicated ostomy sinks.