Quick Answer
Best toilets for stoma users: Look for Changing Places toilets which have hooks, shelves, mirrors, and bins inside the cubicle. Get a RADAR key (£4.50) to access locked accessible toilets. Over 200,000 people in the UK have a stoma (1 in 335 people). Colostomy UK offers free stoma-friendly toilet stickers for venues.
Best Toilets for Stoma Bag Users UK 2025
Who This Guide Is For
- ✓ People with a colostomy (bowel stoma)
- ✓ People with an ileostomy (small bowel stoma)
- ✓ People with a urostomy (bladder stoma)
- ✓ Those recently after stoma surgery planning their return to daily life
- ✓ Carers and family members supporting ostomates
Stomas in the UK: Key Facts
Source: Colostomy UK
What Makes a Toilet "Stoma-Friendly"
Changing a stoma bag requires specific facilities that standard toilets often lack. A stoma-friendly toilet should have:
| Feature | Why It's Needed | British Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 🪝 Hooks (x2) | To hang clothing while changing bags | At 1050mm and 1400mm height |
| 📦 Shelf | Clean surface to lay out supplies | 125-150mm deep, 400mm wide, at 950mm height |
| 🪞 Mirror | To see stoma while changing bag | Ideally full-length |
| 🗑️ Disposal Bin | Discreet disposal of used bags | Inside the cubicle (not outside) |
| 🚰 Sink | Washing hands and cleaning up | Within the cubicle |
| 🔒 Privacy | Full enclosure for changing | Lockable door |
Best Toilet Locations for Ostomates
🥇 Best: Changing Places Toilets
1,600+ locations across the UK with all the facilities ostomates need.
- • Motorway Services: Most Welcome Break, Moto, Roadchef have them
- • Shopping Centres: Westfield, Bluewater, intu venues
- • Airports: All major UK airports
- • Major Train Stations: King's Cross, Euston, Birmingham New Street
- • Hospitals: Most NHS hospitals
Find them at: changing-places.org
🥈 Good: RADAR-Accessible Toilets
9,000+ locked accessible toilets - larger space, usually with sink and bin.
- • Train Stations: Most staffed stations
- • Shopping Centres: Usually one per toilet block
- • Public Buildings: Libraries, civic centres
- • Supermarkets: Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda larger stores
🥉 Acceptable: Department Stores
- • John Lewis: Good accessible facilities with sinks
- • M&S: Clean with accessible options
- • Debenhams/House of Fraser: Variable but often have hooks and bins
Essential Tools for Ostomates
Access Tools
- RADAR Key: £4.50 from Disability Rights UK
Opens 9,000+ locked accessible toilets - Just Can't Wait Card: ~£5 from Bladder & Bowel UK
Explains urgent toilet need - ToiletNearMe App: Free
Find toilets with accessibility info
Changing Kit
- Spare stoma bags
At least 2 when going out - Disposal bags
Opaque bags for used pouches - Wet wipes & dry wipes
For cleaning around stoma - Spare clothes
In case of leaks
Common Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: No shelf for supplies
Solution: Carry a small fold-out shelf or use the toilet roll holder/cistern top. Some ostomates use a clip-on tray that attaches to their bag.
Challenge: No mirror at right height
Solution: Carry a small handheld or compact mirror. Some stoma supply companies provide these free.
Challenge: Being challenged for using accessible toilets
Solution: Carry your Just Can't Wait card. Remember: you have every legal right to use accessible toilets. Having a stoma is a disability under the Equality Act 2010. You don't need to explain yourself, but the card can help avoid confrontation.
Challenge: Disposing of used bags discreetly
Solution: Use opaque disposal bags (many stoma bag brands include these). Wrap used bags well before placing in bins. If no bin in cubicle, use the general waste bin - it's no different from disposing of other sanitary products.
Colostomy UK Support
Colostomy UK is the leading charity for people with stomas. They offer:
- • Free stoma-friendly toilet stickers for venues to display
- • Stoma Aware training for businesses
- • 24/7 Stoma Helpline: 0800 328 4257
- • Tidings magazine with tips and advice
- • Active Ostomates community support
Website: colostomyuk.org | Helpline: 0118 939 1537
Frequently Asked Questions
What facilities do stoma bag users need?
Stoma-friendly toilets need: hooks at two heights (for hanging clothes), a shelf for supplies, a mirror to see the stoma, a disposal bin inside the cubicle, and ideally a sink within the cubicle. Changing Places toilets have all of these.
Can ostomates get a RADAR key?
Yes. Anyone with a stoma can apply for a RADAR key from Disability Rights UK for £4.50. You don't need to be registered disabled. The key opens 9,000+ locked accessible toilets.
Are ostomates allowed to use accessible toilets?
Absolutely. Having a stoma is a hidden disability under the Equality Act 2010. Accessible toilets are for anyone with a disability, not just wheelchair users. You have every right to use them.
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