Crohn's Disease & Colitis — Toilet Access in the UK: Cards, Rights & Resources

Over 500,000 people in the UK live with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis — that's 1 in every 123 people, one of the highest rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the world. Around 25,000 new diagnoses are made annually. Nine in ten people with IBD plan their activities around toilet access, and 75% experience bowel urgency that can go from zero to critical in seconds. This guide covers every practical tool available in the UK to help you manage toilet access.

Use our IBD toilet finder or search by location to plan your route.

The Can't Wait Card (Crohn's & Colitis UK)

Crohn's & Colitis UK members receive the Can't Wait card — a credit-card sized card to show to staff in shops, restaurants, and public venues. It is now recyclable (2024 update) and available in 29 languages, making it genuinely useful internationally. While not legally enforceable, it is widely recognised and provides a dignified way to request urgent access.

Members of Crohn's & Colitis UK can also obtain a RADAR key through the charity, giving access to over 9,000 locked disabled toilets. Non-members can buy a RADAR key for £5 from Disability Rights UK.

The IBD Passport

For international travel, the IBD Passport (ibdpassport.com) is an invaluable resource — it lists IBD treatment centres worldwide with contact details, provides vaccination advice, and includes guidance on accessing healthcare in each country. If you travel frequently, register for the IBD Passport before you go.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard (hdsunflower.com) is a voluntary, discreet signal that the wearer has a non-visible disability. Available free at most major airports, many rail stations, and a growing number of retailers. Staff who see the lanyard are trained to offer additional support — which can include facilitating toilet access, offering priority queuing, or providing a quiet space. Highly recommended for airports and long-distance travel.

Changing Places Toilets

Around 20% of people with IBD have a stoma and need a private, fully enclosed cubicle with a sink and clinical waste disposal. Standard disabled toilets often lack this. A Changing Places toilet — with its hoist, adjustable bench, and full private space — provides the most suitable environment. There are now over 2,546 registered Changing Places toilets across the UK (as of 2024), including 414 new openings in 2024 alone — the highest annual total ever recorded.

Your Legal Rights

IBD very often qualifies as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 given its long-term, substantial impact on daily life. This means:

Service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments (Section 20)
Refusing toilet access in a way that disadvantages you due to IBD may constitute unlawful discrimination (Section 29)
Crohn's & Colitis UK's November 2021 position statement explicitly calls for mandatory accessible toilet provision in all new public buildings and expansion of Community Toilet Schemes
In 2024, Crohn's & Colitis UK joined the London Loo Alliance — a coalition of organisations calling for systemic improvement to London's public toilet infrastructure

The Scale of the Problem

The number of council-operated public toilets in England fell from 5,159 in 2010 to 4,486 in 2018 — a trend that has continued. For IBD patients, this directly affects quality of life and social participation. The RSPH's "Taking the P" report found 43% of people with medical conditions requiring frequent toilet access are restricted in how far they travel from home — described as the "loo leash." Crohn's & Colitis UK's own surveys consistently rank toilet access as a top-three concern for members.

Key Resources

Crohn's & Colitis UK: crohnsandcolitis.org.uk — Can't Wait card, RADAR key, campaigns
Guts UK: gutscharity.org.uk — This Can't Wait card, IBD research funding
IBD UK: ibduk.org — 2024 State of IBD Care report
IBD Passport: ibdpassport.com — international travel with IBD
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower: hdsunflower.com — free lanyards at airports and stations
Bladder & Bowel UK: bbuk.org.uk — Just Can't Wait card, RADAR key home delivery

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people in the UK have Crohn's disease or colitis?

Over 500,000 people in the UK — 1 in every 123. Around 25,000 new diagnoses are made each year. The UK has one of the highest rates of IBD in the world.

Does Crohn's disease count as a disability under UK law?

In most cases, yes. IBD typically qualifies as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 because of its long-term, substantial impact on daily life. This gives you legal rights to reasonable adjustments from service providers, including access to toilet facilities.

What is the Can't Wait card for Crohn's and Colitis?

Issued by Crohn's & Colitis UK to members, the Can't Wait card is shown to staff in shops and venues to explain you have an urgent medical need for toilet access. Available in 29 languages. RADAR keys are also available through the charity.