NIGHTMARE SCENARIO: Beds are too low for wheelchair users
EDITOR Tom Dowling finds the height of hotel beds are now a major problem to him. Sounds familiar . . ?
HAD a good holiday? What was the height of your bed? Not the kind of question you’d normally expect to be asked.
Nor did I ever think that it would be something I’d get so hung up about.
For 50 years transferring sideways from my wheelchair to a bed a few inches higher or lower was never a problem. Despite being paralysed from the chest, I’ve always managed to cope.
However, new health issues have changed all that and I’ve been caught out twice recently.
I wrongly assumed the bed height in an accessible room at a Travelodge and at a wheelchair accessible National Trust cottage and would be okay.
However, the beds were eight centimeters lower than my seated position and gave me all kinds of problems.
Travelodge and the National Trust say they’ve followed guidance from the British Standards Institute, which states 48cms as being the height of a standard wheelchair.
But this figure DOES NOT include a wheelchair cushion, which increases the overall height by another 6cms-10cms.
This was the situation I found myself in at a Travelodge in Ashbourne. Not only was the single bed a bit on the narrow side for me to turn safely, it was also far too low.
The only solution was to place some spare bed sheets under the legs – and hope for the best!
I was caught out again at a National Trust accessible cottage in Shrophshire.
But this time it was impossible to raise it. Lowering my paralysed body onto the bed was tricky; getting it back up and across onto my chair was extremely exhausting and only possible with help from my wife.
Luckily, a cushion from a nearby armchair saved the day. Placing it on the bed I was able to lift onto it before shuffling sideways and finally dragging my body back onto my wheelchair.
It was far from ideal. I’ll definitely be more careful to ask about bed heights before I next book an overnight stay.
SCANNING social media it’s clear that I’m not the only one who’s had to deal with this problem.
“Bed height is a real problem even in accessible rooms,” says one irate message. “Hotels seem to think we have the climbing skills of Tarzan/Spider Man. A few years ago late at night I lost balance trying to do a high transfer and slid to the floor. I ended up pulling the duvet and pillow off the bed and slept on the floor.”
A Spinal Injuries Association spokesperson said: “We know the frustration and anger that many people feel when they discover what they thought was an accessible room is not because of something as obvious as bed height.
“The voices of disabled people must be heard when designing accessible rooms but all too often companies will follow a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”
Travelodge and the National Trust both seemed surprised – but helpful – when I raised the matter with them.
Cheshire-based Disability Positive is working with Travelodge on access issues. Chief executive Lynne Turnbull said: “There will be a range of needs for bed heights and the current British Standard may not meet all of those needs. We will share this feedback with BSI who set the British Standard.”
A National Trust spokeswoman said: “When we next make developments at any of our accessible places, we will be looking to amend the beds if we can.”
Read Harin Ellis’s campaign for better hotel access . . .