Morrisons has announced it will be making an ‘important’ change in all of its supermarkets across England, Scotland and Wales.
The supermarket chain is making all accessible toilets in its stores stoma‑friendly after affected customers called for better support.
The change is designed to help shoppers manage their condition with greater dignity and independence.
The updated facilities include hooks for clothing or bags, a shelf for medical supplies, a bin for discreet disposal and a mirror to help people check their stoma appliances.
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The supermarket worked with Colostomy UK and Scottish MSP Edward Mountain, a bowel cancer survivor who had a stoma fitted during his treatment, to introduce the new features.
He wrote to Morrisons about the difficulties many people still face when using public toilets, prompting the retailer to review its facilities nationwide.
Mr Mountain said: “A s a bowel cancer survivor, and as someone who’s lived with the consequences of bowel surgery and a stoma, I cannot emphasise how important this is.
“These new facilities will make bathrooms easier to use, more accessible, and spell the end of the difficulties, embarrassment and discomfort many of us faced to this point.
“I am immensely grateful to Morrisons, who engaged with me positively from the outset and have come good on their pledge. I hope other supermarkets and major public-facing businesses take heed of this excellent example.”
It is currently estimated that one in 335 people in the UK are living with a stoma. Individuals of all ages may have a stoma, which can be temporary or for the rest of their life.
Stoma surgery is undertaken to treat a range of illnesses including cancer, diverticulitis and Crohn’s disease or following a trauma to the abdomen.
David Scott, corporate affairs director at Morrisons, said: “We’re really pleased to introduce these improvements in all our stores after listening to customers and with guidance from Colostomy UK.
“We worked closely with Edward Mountain, who wrote to us about his personal condition and we found his letter incredibly moving.
“From this, we recognised that living with a stoma is often a hidden experience that still brings practical challenges in daily life.
“By making facilities easier to use across all Morrisons stores, we hope this brings reassurance when out and about and represents a step towards reducing everyday barriers and improving access to suitable facilities across the country.”
Giovanni Cinque, from Colostomy UK, added: “Our research shows that access to suitable toilets remains one of the biggest barriers to people living confidently with a stoma.
“Many tell us they carefully plan journeys, cut trips short, or only go out when absolutely necessary because they are unsure what facilities will be available.
“Stoma friendly features such as a shelf, a bin for discreet disposal, hooks and a mirror may seem simple, but they make a real difference to comfort, dignity and peace of mind.
“We welcome Morrisons commitment to introducing these changes in stores nationwide and thank them for listening to the stoma community and taking practical action to improve access.”
