Gatwick adds another credit to its leading reputation

Air travel facilities ‘among the most up to date in the world’ have had that claim reinforced by installation of new, state-of-the-art toilet facilities for disabled travellers.

London Gatwick has unveiled two Changing Places toilets, airside in each of its terminals. Supplied and installed by sponsor of the Changing Places campaign for optimized accessible toilets, Total Hygiene, the new facilities were officially opened by Changing Places campaigner Margaret Clough and her daughter Julie.

The result of a year’s careful planning to find the most appropriate locations for the facilities, the Changing Places toilets enable anyone who needs the help of a carer to undertake their basic personal hygiene needs in appropriate surroundings, and can be accessed at Gatwick simply by contacting appropriate staff. Larger than a conventional accessible toilet, a Changing Places toilet includes as standard a height adjustable changing bench and hoist.

London Gatwick has further extended the suitability of the toilets’ use by disabled people by also installing a Closomat wash and dry toilet. The Closomat, with its in-built douche and drier, means there is no need for the user – or their carer – to wipe clean with toilet tissue, improving independence, dignity and hygiene.

Paul Fitch, Head of Terminals, commented,

We are immensely proud of these facilities and to have worked so closely with the Clough family over the past year to have them installed. Our priority at Gatwick is always on providing the best experience for our passengers and for some these facilities can mean the difference between them going on holiday and not.

Under BS8300: 2009 it is ‘good practice’ to provide a Changing Places toilet in any building to which numbers of the public have access, be it a new build or a refurbishment or upgrade programme, in addition to standard accessible toilets. Since the Changing Places campaign began over 400 Changing Places toilets have been opened across the UK. In the last year alone, over 50 Changing Places toilets have been opened at venues across the country.