Many disabled Londoners are “prisoners in their own homes” because of the lack of public toilets in the capital, an activist has warned.
Sue Elsegood, a wheelchair user who has muscular dystrophy, has advised London Mayor Sadiq Khan and one of his predecessors Ken Livingstone on accessibility. But she says London has gone backwards in recent years due to council cuts to public toilets.
MyLondon reported that Ms Elsegood uses a ventilator 24/7 and is unable to go out unless there is a changing facility near her destination.
She said: “Most places do not have a changing facility. It’s very restrictive, especially when you have a lot of expertise to share.
“I used to be able to go out and about more – now I need a hoist to support me. I have a portable hoist but you can’t go into a restaurant with that equipment. So I’m very much excluded from a lot of places.”
Ms Elsegood said the Royal Courts of Justice lacks the necessary height accessible safety bench or a hoist, and she added that Soho is also a struggle.
She said: “Going to the theatre is difficult – there often aren’t any facilities or they close too early. Having 24 hour access with a special key or code would be so helpful. We’re like everyone else – we want to have a life, contribute, do activities and work.”
Ms Elsegood said there is a growing campaign for extra and improved toilet facilities, led by groups such as Muscular Dystrophy UK and Age UK but there is still a lot of silence.
She said: “People keep it private. People with complex impairments have been struggling for years, being changed on a dirty toilet floor. There are no hoists to help people to transfer to the toilet safely. That should not be the case. So some people choose not to go out. We are prisoners in our own homes without committing a crime – just because we’re disabled.
“We need funding from City Hall, and for the mayor to champion public toilets. My impairment is muscular dystrophy. But I’m only disabled by the lack of facilities. I wouldn’t be if there were proper facilities everywhere.”
