Media release
January 10, 2007

Public (In)Convenience To Be Discussed At Major New Zealand Rehabilitation Conference

The lack of public toilets and signs pointing to toilets in New Zealand is a major concern, says one of the speakers attending the international rehabilitation conference in Rotorua next month.

Jean Hay-Smith, a rehabilitation lecturer at University of Otago, says so often public conveniences in New Zealand are actually inconveniences, if they exist at all.

"Let’s start by making our public conveniences just that – more public and therefore more convenient.

"How many times have you been to use a public toilet and found it closed (locked) or so unhygienic that wetting your pants almost seems preferable?’’

Dr Hay-Smith will be one of many speakers at the major conference on February 16-18.

World experts will outline overseas trends, ACC staff will promote their new rehabilitation strategy and those who have experienced severe injuries will also speak out.

Dr Hay-Smith said Australia had a public toilet map as a result of a government-funded initiative (www.toiletmap.gov.au). She called for a New Zealand equivalent.

"How many times have you seen a huge queue outside the women’s toilet, but not the men’s?

"We know that women take twice as long to use a toilet than men; pregnant women may want a toilet often and urgently, and many women are menstruating and need access to toilet facilities for that reason alone. Never mind that bladder problems are more common in women than men. So why aren’t there twice as many toilets for women than men?

"And what about the general lack of toilets along stretches of state highway, large retail outlets including DIY stores, recreation grounds and other leisure facilities, and tourist attractions?

"And what if you need to use crutches or a wheelchair for mobility? Consider the narrow doorways, tight corners, and the heavy doors of many public toilets you know and wonder how those with impaired mobility manage. And what if you need a toilet in a hurry?

"Have you noticed that public toilets are often on the top floor, the basement, or in some obscure position within a large complex? What’s more, you usually have to know in advance where to find public toilets because signs are often small, above eye level and difficult to spot in a hurry.’’

Dr Hay-Smith recommends more and clearer signs be made, choosing universal symbols rather than language.

"Signs must give some indication of how far away the toilet is. If the toilet is not open 24 hours make sure the sign says what the opening hours are. On the door of closed toilets should be directions to the next closest public toilet that will be open 24 hours.’’

World experts will outline overseas trends, ACC staff will promote their new rehabilitation strategy and those who have experienced severe injuries will also speak out.

With an ageing population and people surviving what until relatively recently would have been fatal neurological injuries, rehabilitation is an increasingly important part of health and social provision, conference organiser Duncan Reid said today. Other topics to be covered include: the use of everyday technology - such as mobile phones - to help those with brain injuries, the barriers experienced by Maori during stroke recovery, and the current climate of pain management in New Zealand.

ENDS

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