East Cork town to roll out pilot scheme in public toilets for colostomy bag users

A pilot programme to provide facilities for colostomy bag users in public toilets in Cobh is to be undertaken, with plans to roll the initiative out to similar facilities across Cork.

It is also hoped that hotels and pubs will follow  Cork County Council’s lead.

The issue was raised at a council meeting by Labour councillor Cathal Rasmussen, who said he had been contacted by a woman who has a condition requiring her to use a colostomy bag.

“This is a very personal and sensitive issue, and many people carry these bags unbeknown to others. I remember nearly 40 years ago assisting my late father in changing and emptying the colostomy bag,” he said.

Mr Rasmussen said there are many people who wear colostomy bags for reasons including bowel, bladder or ovarian cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, bowel obstruction, or injuries.

He said the woman pointed out that there are no facilities in public toilets to change the colostomy bag attached to a stoma, an opening on the surface of the abdomen.

“This should be a basic requirement in all public toilets. All that is required is a hook and a ledge," Mr Rasmussen said.

"The Cobh district council engineers are very sympathetic to these concerns and are going to look at making these small improvements in the two public toilets, the one in the town centre and the other at the Five Foot Way.”

Broader issue

He said the broader issue is that such facilities generally do not exist in hotels or pubs either, and that he intends to raise the matter with the local chamber of commerce.

“I am hoping that this is the start of a campaign to install and make these small changes in many areas to help those suffering with this," Mr Rasmussen said.

"I have arranged for the local council engineer to meet this lady to discuss these small modifications needed to make her life and many others easier when they are out and about.

"Changing a colostomy bag in a public toilet requires a little preparation and strategy. Step one will be assistance in the design in all public toilets.”

 He was supported in his successful motion by Independent Ireland councillor Ger Curley, who said modifying toilet cubicles for colostomy bag users would not cost a significant amount of money.

He noted that many public toilets already have baby-changing facilities, which are considerably more expensive to install.