Stoma-friendly toilet installed at railway station

A stoma-friendly toilet has been installed at a railway station to improve accessibility.

The facility at Middlesbrough station now has a shelf, hooks and a back rest to meet Colostomy UK requirements, however a campaigner has said the upgrades should be "standard".

Gill Castle, who became the first person with a stoma to swim across the channel, said the "lack of proper toilet facilities prevent people being part of their community".

TransPennine Express, which runs the station, said it wants its services and stations to be "accessible and inclusive for everyone".

Mrs Castle, from Alnwick, Northumberland, had to have a colostomy after suffering a fourth-degree tear during the birth of her son in 2011.

"It's really intimidating for people, leaving the house and not knowing if you're going to have access to facilities to change your bag," she said.

"I don't think people really appreciate that it's really small things like this which make a massive difference.

"I hope that people can see it doesn't take a lot to make life more bearable, you don't need to spend a lot of money."

Colostomy UK estimates one in 335 people in the UK are currently living with a stoma.

A spokesperson for the charity said results from its 2022 survey revealed 62% of respondents believe a lack of "suitable toilet facilities" was impacting their day-to-day life.

They said it discourages people from "many of the activities much of society takes for granted, which can lead to isolation and exclusion".

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