A new Changing Places facility installed in Chorley Town Hall has been praised as “aspirational”.

Meeting all the requirements of BS8300 for disabled access within public facilities, the new installation in Chorley Town Hall goes above and beyond the minimum expectations.

Andrew Lowndes, UK sales manager at Pressalit Care, specialists in the design of facilities for those with limited mobility, says, “The content and quality of this bathroom are to be praised – this is a fine example of what an accessible bathroom can look like. It is truly aspirational.

“Chorley Council should be congratulated for their commitment to best practice in this facility.”

The Deputy Leader of Chorley Council, Councillor Peter Wilson, oversees the council’s buildings and facilities. He says, “This facility needed to be of the highest quality with the best facilities available for our visitors and staff. Using adjustable height bathroom products has enabled us to incorporate the required flexibility and efficiency alongside the design and style we aspired to.

“The feedback that we have received from visitors to the Town Hall speaks for itself – those people with limited mobility who have benefitted from the facilities have been delighted with the flexibility and ease of use.”

With around 1 in 10 people now estimated to be in need of support while using bathroom facilities, it is more important than ever for public buildings to offer effective accessible amenities.

At Chorley Town Hall, the wheelchair friendly bathroom, that provides a spacious environment for those who need the help of a carer, has been designed in coordinating anthracite grey and white for an aesthetically pleasing contrast with adjustable height products from the Pressalit Care range.

Among the Pressalit Care elements included are the Nursing Bench 3000, featuring a head and neck support, and curved contour making the bench extremely comfortable and safe; the Select Wash Basin, which has a concave front edge to help stabilize a standing as well as a seated user, with wall mounted grab rails; and the Select Toilet with hinged arm supports.

The electrically powered toilet, with its smooth lines and surfaces for ease of cleaning, not only allows the user to find the most comfortable seating position, but also acts as a sitting or standing aid.

Transferring to and from the toilet can feel overwhelming for frail, elderly or disabled users. It is important therefore that the height of the toilet seat corresponds with the user’s situation and that both of the user’s feet can be placed on the floor, making it easier to balance and transfer. The electric hand control for the Select Toilet is operated with the simple press of a button, and is ideal for multi-user bathrooms where frequent height adjustment is required.

As at Chorley Town Hall, height-adjustable products, as specified for Changing Places facilities, can be met from Pressalit Care’s range of specialist bathroom solutions. BS8300 recommends the use of a “large power assisted height-adjustable washbasin” and a “height-adjustable showering/changing bench”, such as those designed by Pressalit Care.

Pressalit Care has over forty years’ experience of designing bathrooms for care homes, hospitals and public institutions where practicality is a pre-requisite. The company is pleased to offer a free in-house design and quotation service for those looking to install a Changing Places facility.

Visit www.pressalit.com or call 0844 88069500844 8806950 for more information.