A whole host of hoists
3
3
Date of visit: September 2025
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hidden impairment, powerchair, toilet with hoist, toilets, walking aid, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Average
The Changing Places toilet is located in the Brahan Building. It has all the essentials you’d expect from such a facility, though it’s let down by poor signage and unnecessary clutter. It features an adjustable changing bed, a shower, a ceiling track hoist and a portable hoist (for some reason), a height-adjustable sink, and a colostomy shelf.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The toilet is poorly signposted, but it’s easy to find once you know where it is. Enter through the inward-opening automatic doors at the front — you may need to press the touchpad to activate them. Take a left, go through the door marked with a wheelchair symbol, and follow the corridor around the corner to a brown wooden door, and you’re there!
Accessible facilities: Drop-off point, Lift to all areas, Single-level venue, Step-free route with firm surface from car park to entrance
Parking & Transport
Average
I travelled to this place by walk or wheel
There are parking spaces near the front door, including five accessible spaces. It’s worth noting there is plenty of parking across the college, though there’s a hill down to these car parks from the entrance to this building. There is a step-free route to the entrance via a zebra crossing, as well as stairs with rails, clearly marked edges, and tactile paving.
Accessible facilities: Dedicated on-site parking
Accessible Toilets
Average
The door to this toilet is quite unassuming, with nothing on the outside to suggest it’s a Changing Places facility. The stickers indicate it’s unisex, accessible, and has a baby change, which it does, but the usual symbol for a hoist is absent. The door opens outward and does not require a RADAR key. The room is a good size, though everything feels a bit crammed. There’s a baby change tucked behind the portable hoist and privacy curtain. In addition to the portable hoist, a ceiling track hoist is also available. The toilet has a clear left-hand transfer space, while the right-hand space is partly blocked by a large bin. A red emergency cord hangs to the right of the toilet, though both red bangles were hanging at the bottom of the cord. The room also features an adjustable changing bed, a shower, and a colostomy shelf tucked behind the privacy curtain. On the left, there’s an adjustable sink with a long lever tap. Overall, it’s functional, but clutter and poor signage make it tricky to find and use confidently.
Facilities: Changing Places toilet, Changing Places toilet with shower
Staff
I didn't speak with the staff.
