It was recently announced that 191 Local Authorities have been successful in their bids to acquire a portion of the £30m pot of Government funding for new Changing Places Toilets.

With the prospect of more than 500 of these fully accessible public toilets now being installed over the next two years it is essential that the right equipment is specified to ensure the long-term usability of these public facilities.

Historically, Changing Places toilets have been installed using changing tables not designed specifically for high-use, public areas. Over the time that Astor Bannerman has been installing them, the company has noticed some problems associated with the use of these tables in multi-user public environments. So, a few years ago the Research and Development Team set out to create a changing table designed to overcome the challenges thrown up by public Changing Places toilets.

The result was the Astor Invincible Changing Table.

ROBUSTNESS

One of the problems with toilets that are open to the public; in parks, town centres and tourist attractions, is vandalism. That, along with wear and tear, can bear heavily on padded surfaces, handsets, exposed wires and vulnerable parts. To combat this problem, the team at Astor Bannerman were determined to make the new table as robust as possible.

So, they went right back to the drawing board, looking at every individual component and material to make sure they were all as tamper-proof as possible, eradicating exposed wires and vulnerable parts.

They also designed the changing table stretcher to be extremely easy to clean and disinfect, using a material with a patent pending design.

HYGIENE

Changing tables are constantly exposed to dirt and grime, and the challenge, now even more than ever, is to keep them clean and sanitised.

For Changing Places toilets in high use areas such as leisure centres, parks and tourist destinations, it is essential that the equipment can be cleaned and maintained effectively. So, making each element easy to clean was a priority when R&D were developing the new changing table.

One of the Astor Invincible’s main features is the stretcher, which is made with a highly cut resistant material that is very easy to disinfect and clean. The stretcher is also incorporated into the frame, with integrated controls, to minimise gaps and nooks & crannies where dust and grime could accumulate. There is also no need for an extra padded mattress which can trap dirt, as the stretcher itself is flexible and comfortable.

In addition, although the Astor Invincible has been designed to be used in wet rooms and is IPX4 rated for waterproofness, it has been designed without a shower tray, which can be hard to clean.

COMFORT

If a changing table is uncomfortable or awkward to use it can make for an unpleasant, frustrating experience.

Wherever a changing table is installed, it is essential that as well as being robust and hygienic, it is also comfortable! That was at the forefront of the team’s minds when they were developing the Astor Invincible.

The main feature of the Astor Invincible is the stretcher material – a highly cut resistant material that flexes to give a comfortable surface to lie on. There is also no need for an extra padded mattress, as the stretcher itself provides comfort.

In addition to a comfortable stretcher, the front guard has a split design allowing flexibility to use both guards for full protection, or to lower one to give better access to give care whilst retaining a level of protection.

To aid usability, the controls are integrated into the frame with two sets of simple up/down control buttons to choose from to suit the care-giver’s position and preference.

ABOUT ASTOR BANNERMAN

Astor Bannerman are a UK manufacturer offering the full range of products specified by Changing Places regulations, including fixed and mobile changing tables, hoists, height adjustable washbasins, toilets and accessories. They have over 27 years’ experience of designing and installing equipment for disabled people and their families.

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