Woman presses council for stoma-friendly toilets

4 hours ago

Sarah SandersonPolitical reporter, East Yorkshire & Lincolnshire

News image — Jenna Robinson, of Beverley Stoma Support Group, would like to see improved facilities in standard disabled toilets

BBC Jenna Robinson is smiling into the camera. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a white top. She is standing in a public garden which has wild flowers in it behind a council building in Beverley. — Jenna Robinson, of Beverley Stoma Support Group, would like to see improved facilities in standard disabled toilets

A woman has stepped up a campaign for more stoma-friendly accessible toilets.

Jenna Robinson, 38, will take attend a full meeting of East Riding of Yorkshire Council later, when her local councillor will press for a review of public conveniences owned by the authority.

Robinson, who is the founder of the Beverley Stoma Support Group, would like the council to install a shelf in every standard disabled toilet so that people with stomas have somewhere to place their medical items.

"When you see a disabled or an accessible toilet, you think everything is in there and equipped with everything you need, but unfortunately it's few and far between," she said.

"I'm really advocating for people with stomas and also hidden disabilities as well to just get better facilities for us, so we can start leading a more independent life."

Robinson was fitted with a stoma in November 2025 after living with slow transit constipation for eight years which she says was "literally ruining my life".

The devices are often fitted because of bowel diseases and attach to a hole – or stoma – in the abdomen, allowing waste to be diverted out of the body.

Robinson said her stoma had been life-changing.

"It's given me my life back. I can go out now, I can be with my children, I can play with my children.

"I've actually now got a new job which I'm really excited about and I start that in September."

Close up photo of Jenna Robinson's stoma which is attached to her lower abdomen. She is wearing jeans and a white jumper. The stoma is a small bag which is often fitted because of bowel diseases and attach to a hole - or stoma - in the abdomen, allowing waste to be diverted out of the body. — Jenna Robinson says the stoma has "given me my life back"

Geovanni Cinqui, of Colostomy UK, said more than 200,000 people live with a stoma in the UK.

The charity has launched a national campaign for stoma-friendly accessible toilets with hooks, shelves and mirrors, which was raised in a debate in Parliament in June.

Cinqui said: "The aim of it was to raise awareness with the government of the huge importance in having suitable toilet provision for people with stomas, but also how important local councils are in this happening.

"We've spoken a lot about working with shopping centres and other businesses, but having local council-provided toilets that are open and suitable for people with stomas is hugely important."

While "changing places" accessible toilets do have shelves and a mirror, other disabled facilities often do not.

Councillor Denis Healy has invited Robinson to attend the council meeting.

He will move a motion by which the council would identify opportunities to improve facilities.

He said: "We are not asking for huge spending commitments. In many cases, we are talking about something as simple as a shelf in an accessible toilet.

"For most of us, a shelf might seem insignificant. For somebody trying to change a stoma bag safely, hygienically and with dignity, it can make a world of difference."

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