A mum-of-two who suffers from a debilitating neurological condition has branded staff at a major clothing retailer “inhuman” after they refused to let her use a store toilet, causing her to wet herself in the middle of a busy shop. Bianca Artwell, 30, suffers from Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) - a condition that affects her nervous system and how her brain and body send and receive signals. Her symptoms include weakness or paralysis, tremors or tics, difficulty walking, loss of balance, and incontinence.
The effect of the invisible condition on her can vary from day to day, meaning she often has to rely on a wheelchair or walking aids, and certain symptoms can come on quickly, occasionally catching her unawares. Bianca was recently in her local branch of River Island where she was trying to return a pair of shoes for her three-year-old daughter.
But as she approached the till she realised she needed the toilet - something she struggles to control due to her FND. She asked staff to use the store’s toilet, explaining her condition and that she was unable to wait but they refused, saying it was against company policy. Despite pleading with staff and the store manager, Bianca was told to go to a cafe across the road, but as she tried to leave the store she was unable to hold on and wet herself.
