Closomat Changing Places image
A Closomat Changing Places installation

Up to £2million of capital funding is now available for NHS Trusts to apply for to improve the provision of Changing Places in NHS Hospitals as the campaign to deliver accessible toileting continues to push for facilities in all large public buildings.

Announced in December 2018 by Caroline Dinenage, Minister of State for Care, the £2million of capital funding enables NHS acute hospital trusts in England to bid for funding from the 1st June 2019 but excludes Trusts that already have a Changing Places facility.

Available for the financial years 2019-20 and 2020-21, all awarded funding must be drawn and expended by the 31st March 2021 and cannot be drawn by Trusts in advance of need.

The Department for Health and Social Care confirmed that the expectation of bids for funding will be matched on a one-to-one basis from the Trust’s local funds and that successful Trusts will be liable for any future revenue and capital costs relating to the facilities.

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Highlighting that the average cost of installing Changing Places in hospitals is thought to be between £25,000 and £35,000, the Government says the funding initiative was driven by a significant lack of the facilities in NHS England premises.

Despite there currently being over 1200 registered Changing Places toilets in the UK, the Department stated the provision on the NHS Estate in England was limited at present to no more than between 30 and 40 locations – although noting there may be some unregistered Changing Places toilets.

The opening of the funding comes as the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government continues its consultation on whether Building Regulations should be updated to make Changing Places facilities mandatory in large, public buildings.

The new funding presents a significant opportunity for both suppliers and installers of Changing Places facilities, following the recent announcement of funding for the accessible toileting facilities in England’s motorway service stations.

In spring, bathing specialist suppliers Ropox and Kingkraft installed a Changing Places facility in Burton Hospital, part of University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust, as a joint project.

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