Innova Care Concepts improves accessibility at shopping centre with Changing Places facility
Healthcare equipment provider Innova Care Concepts has installed a brand new modular Changing Places toilet that will help visitors with complex care needs to access a Fareham shopping centre more easily.
As a modular building, the Changing Place toilet is situated in the East car park by Harvester at Whiteley Shopping Centre, enabling easy access for families and those needing support from a carer.
Over 250,000 people in the UK require access to a Changing Places toilet, as standard accessible toilets are unable to meet their care needs. Changing Places provide a hygienic, safe and comfortable facility for disabled people and carers. Larger than a standard disabled facility, they offer space to manoeuvre a wheelchair, with up to two carers present.
As the main contractor for the project, Innova supplied and installed the new facility, including specialist healthcare equipment such as an overhead hoist system, helping to eliminate the need to lift a person manually, reducing the strain on carers’ backs and the risk of injury to the person being transferred.
Results from Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Changing Places survey in 2021 found that one in five Changing Places users, carers and potential users found it impossible to have a day out without a Changing Place toilet on site.
Mia Gordon, Centre Director at Whiteley, commented: “Making our centre inclusive and accessible for everyone is a major priority for us and we’re over the moon to be able to now offer these exceptional facilities. I do hope our new Changing Places facilities help to make Whiteley even more welcoming for our visitors and, as always, look forward to hearing any feedback from those using them.”
Karen Hoe OBE, Changing Places Manager at Muscular Dystrophy UK, stated: “We are so pleased to see Whiteley Shopping Centre has joined the growing installations of shopping complexes that have committed to adding a new Changing Places toilet facility.
“Their commitment to being inclusive will make a huge difference to hundreds of people who are dependent on these facilities on a daily basis. The addition of this modular unit will ensure more people can come to visit and stay longer to enjoy their shopping experience with comfort and dignity.”
Derek Oliver, Changing Places Manager at Innova Care Concepts, added: “Around a quarter of a million people in the UK need extra space and equipment to use toilets safely and comfortably, and it’s great to see destinations like Whiteley investing to ensure they are able to do so when visiting the centre.
“We are delighted to have worked with the team on this project, which means even more people can enjoy what Whiteley has to offer.”
Innova Care Concepts is a healthcare equipment provider that focuses on combining aesthetics and functionality to create new, easy-to-use products. This year, the supplier has helped Lloyds Banking Group become the first banking institution in the UK to have a registered Changing Places toilet. It also helped improve accessibility at London City Hall with a new facility.
