The Irish Society for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease (ISCC ) are highlighting the urgent need for all businesses and public amenities to support people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease by allowing those presenting the ISCC “No Waiting” card access to public toilets while still abiding by public health guidance.
The Irish Society for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease is a patient-to-patient support group for over 40,000 people who are living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Ireland.
As the country begins to reopen, many people living with IBD have begun travelling outside their homes for the first time since the lockdown began. Traveling outside the home has always been a challenge for many people living with IBD, but this new way of living has brought further challenges.
Urgent diarrhoea is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of both Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. A major anxiety for people living with the condition is being refused access to toilets or being confronted about using a ‘disabled’ toilet.
Furthermore, many others with IBD will require a public toilet to change a stoma bag or to dress a wound. Whilst someone may appear to look healthy on the outside, they may be in a daily battle with the condition and urgently need to use a toilet when in public. This treatment can lead to extreme pain with devastating consequences for people living with this invisible illness.
During this crisis, many people living with IBD have been refused access to a public toilet in urgent situations. The Irish Society of Colitis and Crohn’s provide members with a “No Waiting” card which is recognised worldwide, and should grant the holder immediate access to a public toilet in an emergency situation.
“We are asking that all businesses and public amenities support people living with IBD by allowing those presenting the ISCC “No Waiting” card access to public toilets while still abiding by public health guidance,” Director, Amy Kelly, commented.
The ISCC are compiling a register of supporting organisations, businesses and public representatives on their website www.iscc.ie/nowaitingcard
This register is updated daily. The ISCC ask if you have been denied access to a public toilet, or would like to support this campaign get in contact,[email protected].
