I just wondered if I was overreacting about my recent incident going through customs at Birmingham airport. After putting my luggage through x ray I stood in front of the X-ray machine and was pulled to the side to be searched/patted down. You can imagine I had to explain that I had an ileostomy and consequently a stoma bag. I was informed that they wanted to see my stoma bag and swab it(this I did not object to but was a bit taken aback that they wanted me to show them my bag in the middle of the airport terminal!). In hindsight I should have asked them to take me to a side room instead of which they expected me to unzip my jeans to show them my stoma bag.
Am I overreacting, your thoughts would be appreciated.
Debbie
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newbe
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No you are not. That is unforgivable treatment, you should register a formal complaint. Absolutely unbelievable. I am so sorry. This should never happen again. I would also be writing to my mp and the press
Hi from a fellow scleroderma ostomate. I don’t know if you’re on the stoma group here or colostomy uk Facebook but I know that others have recounted similar experiences here and at airports abroad. I did fly from Scotland to Heathrow and back only a few months after my stoma surgery. I paid for a GP letter to confirm colostomy and also my portacth and my bottles of Ensure Plus but was still very apprehensive. I had a rolator and was patted down at X-ray but not asked for anything more intimate or a swab.
I guess that stoma bags would be a very good place to smuggle drugs or other through so they are probably within their rights to take you to a room and ask although it does seem terribly invasive - similar to swabbing someone’s private parts for no good reason.
Having an ostomy is classed as a disability so I think way you were treated could be classed as ableist? In my case last year it was fine both ways but a necessary bag change during the short flight was a disaster so I have avoided travelling ever since.
I’ve always been glad for good security checks at airports. But making you show them your stoma bag and requiring swab in the middle of the airport rather than a private room is just downright wrong - so I really would complain.
Sounds appalling and embarrassing and probably shocked you into silence. I've found some info online that may help for the future:securicaremedical.co.uk/blo...
I have also had this happen to me. I also think I was shocked into silence! The worst, however, was in a Spanish airport, where, after being taken to a private room, I was asked to remove the bag! I said I couldn't. She kept screaming "Take it off!", and I kept saying that I wouldn't. In the end she got a supervisor, and thankfully she overruled the first security lady. However, this incident was very unpleasant. I have a booklet "Travelling with a stoma", which explains the ileostomy in several languages. I can't remember where I got it! Sorry. X
You should certainly have been taken to a side room for this and given some privacy! I would never have considered this as something that might happen after what must be a fairly traumatic experience. I feel sad that you were treated in such a cavalier manner seems terribly disrespectful.
You are definitely not over reacting. Sometimes we go into a state of suspended disbelief and quietly comply, but I would have been horrified to be treated like that. I’m outraged on your behalf.
Completely against ALL citizens rights. unfortunately your job here is not done. You have to contact airport security headquarters and let them know about the violation of your rights as well as the violation of sanitation laws immediately I’m sorry you’re going through this, but please follow through what they did to you was not even not right to you but everybody around you please follow through.
yeah obviously I knew this, but you need to understand that when you had to expose your body to let them swab you’re not only allowed infectious, aerated diseases and airborne pathogenic diseases to yourself, but you also had to allow other people to absorb it too. All they needed was a cut on their fingertip to absorb infection. This is very serious almost as much as Covid and I realize what I’m saying but no, you are not overreacting. Please follow through to make sure airport security in Birmingham and worldwide will never jeopardize the person‘s house or the people surrounding them requesting a swab of their ill ostomy bag
If you do decide to complain, which I feel sure you’re within your rights to do, it would be a good idea to phone Colostomy UK first in order to get clarification about the law. This dedicated charity have a 24 hour helpline and will be able to give you advice and support you probably need in the first instance: colostomyuk.org/travel-tips...
“If you are asked to step aside because the operator has seen ‘something’, this should be done discreetly. If a search is considered necessary you can request that this is carried out in private. Security officers are trained to deal sensitively with such issues. They should also be able to recognise a stoma bag.
Remember – Passengers can refuse to enter a body scanner but, if they do so, they will be have to agree to a full body search before they are permitted to fly.
For further information, visit the Civil Aviation Authority at:
Colostomy UK regularly attend forums and have provided training to airport staff at; Heathrow, Stansted, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff Airports as well as working directly with the Civil Aviation Authority.”
Thank you, I actually emailed colostomy uk and they have provided me with some useful info and have asked for my flight details too. They are also bringing to the attention of the ceo
Excellent - I’m so glad. This really needs addressing because, when we are actually going through security, with all the concerns this entails with a complex rare condition such as scleroderma, finding our flight gate in time etc , we are far less likely to be able to stand our ground - especially with a stoma. My fear with being asked to remove my bag even a private room would be a) the mess and b) my Raynaud’s would likely flare up and I’d struggle to clean up or get a new bag to stick well enough xx
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