Stoma-Friendly Toilets in the UK — What to Look For and Where to Find Them

More than 200,000 people live with a stoma in the UK, according to Colostomy UK — a figure the BBC cited in July 2026 when it reported that the charity's stoma-friendly toilets campaign had been raised in Parliament in June.

What those 200,000 people need from a toilet is not a hoist or a wider door. It is a shelf, a hook, a mirror and a bin — cheap fittings most accessible cubicles still lack at least one of. This guide covers what to look for, the campaign fixing it, and how to get in when the accessible toilet is locked.

What Makes a Toilet Stoma-Friendly

Changing a stoma pouch means laying out supplies on a clean surface, standing at a mirror rather than sitting, and disposing of the used pouch hygienically. Colostomy UK asks venues to provide:

A shelf — British Standards guidance cited by the campaign puts it at 125–150mm deep and preferably 400mm wide
Hooks on the door — two, at different heights, for bags and clothing
A mirror — for checking the pouch and clothing before leaving
A disposal bin in every cubicle — not only in women's toilets
Well-stocked basics — toilet roll, paper towels and handwash
Stoma-friendly signage on the door

None of this is expensive, which is exactly the campaign's point: most accessible toilets could become stoma-friendly for the cost of a shelf and two hooks.

The Colostomy UK Stoma-Friendly Toilets Campaign

Colostomy UK's national campaign asks venues to fit the features above and signpost them, and venues that sign up are added to the charity's online Stoma Friendly Toilets Finder. The BBC covered the campaign in February 2025, and by June 2026 it had been raised in Parliament.

Recent adopters show the momentum:

B&Q confirmed in January 2026 that it is rolling out stoma-friendly toilets across its stores nationwide
Liverpool ONE introduced stoma-friendly toilets in 2025 as one of five accessibility initiatives launched with Colostomy UK for Purple Tuesday
In November 2025 the BBC reported St Helier in Jersey adding stoma-friendly facilities to a public toilet

The RADAR Key — Access Without Proof

Many of the best-equipped accessible toilets are locked under the National Key Scheme, and a RADAR key opens over 9,000 of them. There is no statutory proof-of-disability test — eligibility rules are set by each seller, not by law.

Colostomy UK sells a set of two RADAR keys for £4 (plus £1 delivery per item), asking for a copy of your prescription or a recent delivery note as proof of a stoma. Disability Rights UK charges £5 VAT-free on self-declaration. Our guide on how to get a RADAR key compares every seller and shows how to spot a fake.

Challenged for Using the Accessible Toilet

A stoma is invisible under clothing, and being confronted on the way out of an accessible toilet is one of the most commonly reported experiences among stoma users. Under the Equality Act 2010, protection does not depend on looking disabled, and nobody — staff or stranger — is entitled to demand proof. Our guide to your rights when challenged for using an accessible toilet covers what to say and when a challenge becomes unlawful.

A toilet access card can end the conversation quickly: Colostomy UK issues a photo ID card for £5.50, and several other cards are free — see our comparison of UK toilet access cards.

"Not Every Disability Is Visible" Signage

Crohn's & Colitis UK launched its Not Every Disability Is Visible campaign in 2016, asking venues to reword accessible toilet door signs. Tesco announced new signage in January 2017, following Asda and Morrisons, and by 2020 the signs were in over 2,500 supermarkets across Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Waitrose, plus sites including Heathrow, Gatwick and Roadchef services.

The sign matters for stoma users because it retrains other people's expectations: it announces that the person coming out of the accessible cubicle does not owe anyone an explanation.

Travelling With a Stoma

Carry your RADAR key — locked accessible toilets are concentrated at service stations, car parks and council blocks that stay open when staff are not around
Keep supplies in hand luggage when flying, and ask your airline in advance about an extra allowance for medical supplies
Colostomy UK issues a free travel certificate explaining your condition and need for urgent toilet access — carry it through security and abroad
Plan stops ahead with our list of the best toilets for stoma bag users in the UK

Key Resources

Colostomy UK: colostomyuk.org — two RADAR keys for £4, photo ID card £5.50, free travel certificate, and the Stoma Friendly Toilets Finder
Disability Rights UK: disabilityrightsuk.org — RADAR keys £5 VAT-free on self-declaration
Crohn's & Colitis UK: crohnsandcolitis.org.uk — Not Every Disability Is Visible campaign; Can't Wait card included with membership from £15 a year
Bladder & Bowel Community: bladderandbowel.org — free digital Just Can't Wait card

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to prove you have a stoma to use an accessible toilet?

No. There is no legal requirement to carry proof of disability or to disclose a diagnosis to anyone, including staff. If the Equality Act 2010 definition applies to you, your protection is identical to a wheelchair user's — visibility is legally irrelevant, and obstruction by staff can amount to unlawful discrimination.

Can stoma users get a RADAR key?

Yes. Colostomy UK sells a set of two for £4 with a copy of a prescription or a recent delivery note, and Disability Rights UK sells keys for £5 VAT-free on self-declaration. No law imposes an eligibility test — individual sellers set their own rules, and some councils ask for no evidence at all.

Is having a stoma automatically a disability under UK law?

No — not automatically. The Equality Act 2010 test is whether an impairment has a substantial, long-term effect on normal day-to-day activities, and it turns on the effect on you rather than the diagnosis. A permanent stoma will often meet that test, because continence and toileting are day-to-day activities.