Some Merseyside hotels charge over £150 more to people who use wheelchairs
A man from Liverpool is petitioning to get at least one bed hoist in every hotel
Harin Ellis from Garston, Liverpool, has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around.
His condition means he has to sleep on a profiling bed. These beds are adjustable and designed for medical use.
To move from his chair to bed he uses a hoist.
Harin says hardly any hotels have these hoists which are needed by thousands of wheelchair users.
The lack of accessibility in hotel rooms across the UK stops him from going too far outside Liverpool, as he can't stay overnight.
He said: “I have cerebral palsy which means I need the use of a profiling bed and use a hoist for all transfers.
I am very adventurous and love to attend concerts and shows around the UK, trying to find somewhere to stay overnight is extremely hard for me not only needing to find suitable accommodation for my needs but also the extra price tag that’s added when anything is for someone with a disability the price always increases.”
In the UK less than 20 hotel rooms are equipped with facilities, including hoists, that support getting in and out of a wheelchair.
Rachel Cracknell is one of Harin's friends and is also a wheelchair user, she says without these facilities her and many others are extremely limited to travel.
Rachel told us: “I had to pay over £160 extra because I need a hoist, because these are not included in hotels. That’s just for one nights use of the hoist.”
Harin has over 3,000 signatures for his fully accessible hotels petition page.
Rachel said: “The petition means a lot to me, if I don’t have a hoist I can’t physically stay somewhere, and accessible accommodation is so overpriced.
“You have to look at, easily, £1000 more.”
Harin said: “Thank you to everyone who signed the petition so far” and urges others to do the same.