Access Guide
Overview (Whipps Cross University Hospital)
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About
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- This is a hospital with multiple services available.
- Facilities available in the venue include: wards, departments, a shop, restaurant and coffee shop.
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Parking and Public Transport
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- The venue has its own car park, with Blue Badge parking available.
- There is a drop-off point.
- The nearest train station is Wood Street Train Station.
- The nearest underground station is Walthamstow Central.
- The nearest bus station is Walthamstow Central.
- For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Google Maps (opens new tab).
- View information on getting here (opens new tab) .
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Getting In and Around
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- There is step-free level access at the most accessible entrance.
- There is step-free level access throughout, this may include the use of a lift.
- The following areas have step-free access via ramps or slopes: There is a slight slope to access vending machines off the main corridor on the ground floor. There is also a slight slope to access the outpatients building via the link bridge.
- Access throughout may include doors permanently held open.
- The lower ground floor, ground floor, first floor and second floor can be accessed via a standard lift and stairs.
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Getting Help and Assistance
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- There is seating available.
- There is no hearing assistance system.
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair.
- British Sign Language interpreters can be provided on request.
- Documents are available in the following formats: Braille (on request), large print (on request) and different languages (on request).
- The hospital volunteers operate a buggy service to drive patients with mobility difficulties between the Hospital Main Building, Outpatients and other buildings on the hospital site.
The buggy can carry patients and their folded wheelchair or other mobility aids.
Staff at any department or reception can contact the volunteer service.
Porters can also be called to assist patients who are unable to transfer out of their own wheelchair or who require a hospital wheelchair. - There is a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
- There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.
- Additional facilities/services include: a pay phone and Wi-Fi.
Parking (Car Park 1)
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Car Park
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- The car park is located off Hospital Road.
- The car park is open air/surface.
- The car park surface consists of tarmac.
- There are 5 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
- The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked.
- The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 240cm (width) x 480cm (depth).
- The hatched/marked zones vary between bays.
- The width of the marked zone is 120cm.
- The nearest designated bay is 11m from the main hospital entrance.
- The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has step-free level access.
- There are 5 clearly marked steps from the standard bays in the car park to the hospital main entrance that can be bypassed by going back through the car park and round to the right. The steps are 15cm in height and have handrails on both sides.
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Charges and Restrictions
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- This car park is for visitors only.
- Parking is not free for all users.
- Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
- Free parking for Blue Badge holders is restricted to 5 hours. No return within 3 hours.
- Clearly presented parking signs are available.
- Payment machines are located in the centre of the car park.
- There is a payment machine with controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- There is a level manoeuvring space for a wheelchair user in front of the payment machine (185cm x 210cm).
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Electric Vehicle Charging Points
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- There is 1 electric vehicle charging point.
- The dimensions of the surveyed electric vehicle charging bay are 240cm (width) x 470cm (depth).
- The controls are not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The nozzle holster is not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The charging points require tap and pay (contactless payment).
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Drop-off Point
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- There is not a designated drop-off point available.
Getting To (Medical Education Training Suite)
- The Medical Education Training Suite is/are located on the 1st floor of the hospital within junction 7 within the pink zone.
- Access to the Medical Education Training Suite is via the lift in Junction 7 in the Pink Zone.
- Access to Medical Education Training Suite is via the main hospital entrance on the ground floor within the Orange Zone. Turn right immediately inside the entrance and then left down the main corridor as far as Junction 7 in the Pink Zone and use the lift located just before the Breast Clinic on your right. Take the lift to the 1st floor, upon exiting the lift the Medical Education Training Suite is across the foyer to your right.
- There is step free access, via lift, to the Medical Education Training Suite.
- The Medical Education Training Suite is approximately 96m from the Hospital Main Entrance.
- There is a/are manual, heavy, double door(s) between the hospital main entrance and the department/service.
- Wayfinding signage is provided.
- Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
- There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
Entrance (Main Entrance)
- This entrance is located off Hospital Road.
- The entrance area is clearly signed.
- There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
- There is step-free access via a very easy ramp at the entrance.
- There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 113cm.
- There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
- The door opens by sliding.
- The width of the opening is 117cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
- The door has a high visual contrast.
- There is a second set of double automatic doors .
- The second set of doors open by sliding.
- The width of the opening is 156cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
- The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.
- There is step-free level access as you enter.
Exit (Main Entrance)
- The exit area is clearly signed.
- There is step-free level access at the exit.
- There is a single automatic door at this exit.
- The door opens by sliding.
- The width of the opening is 128cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
- The door has a high visual contrast.
- There is a second set of double automatic doors .
- The second set of doors are permanently held open.
- The width of the opening is 115cm.
- The second set of doors have a high visual contrast.
- There is step-free level access as you exit.
Lift (Junction 7 - No.34)
- The lift surveyed is located along the main corridor at junction 7.
- The distance from the main entrance is 263m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
- The ground floor, first floor and second floor are accessed by this lift.
- The lift door has a medium visual contrast.
- The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
- The external lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
- All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The lift door opening width is 140cm.
- The internal dimensions of the lift are 174cm (width) x 271cm (depth).
- The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
- The majority of the internal controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing, a hearing assistance alarm system, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
- Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.
Opening Times
- Monday 08:30 - 17:00.
- Tuesday 08:30 - 17:00.
- Wednesday 08:30 - 17:00.
- Thursday 08:30 - 17:00.
- Friday 08:30 - 17:00.
- Saturday Closed.
- Sunday Closed.
Entrance (Medical Education Training Suite)
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Entrance Details
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- This information is for the entrance located the 1st floor of the main hospital in the pink zone.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed with the name of the service/department.
- There is step free access at this entrance, via lift.
- There is a bell/buzzer.
- The height of the bell/buzzer is 120cm .
- There is not an intercom.
- There is a hand sanitiser.
- The height of the hand sanitiser is 115cm (3ft 9in).
- There is a door release button when exiting.
- The height of the door release button is 115cm (3ft 9in).
- The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is/are single width with a locked extension leaf.
- The door(s) is/are heavy.
- The width of the door opening is 70cm.
Reception (Administration Office)
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Reception
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- The reception point is located on the 1st floor of Junction 8 (Pink Zone).
- The reception point is approximately 2m (2yd 7in) from the Medical education training suite entrance.
- The reception area/desk is clearly visible from the entrance.
- There is step free access to the reception point.
- There is a clear unobstructed route to the reception point.
- There are no windows, glazed screens or mirrors behind the reception point which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
- The reception counter is not placed in front of a background which is patterned.
- The lighting levels at the reception point are good.
- There is not sufficient space to write or sign documents on the counter.
- There is not a low section of the counter (76cm or below) available.
- There is not sufficient space to write or sign documents on the low section of the counter.
- The counter is staffed.
- There is not a bell to attract attention.
- The bell is not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
Inside Access
- There is level access once inside.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- This venue does not play background music.
- Motorised scooters are allowed in public parts of the venue.
- Wayfinding signage is available.
- No Braille signage is available.
- No tactile signage is available.
- No pictorial signage is available.
- Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
- The type of flooring in walkways and corridors is vinyl/laminate.
- There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- The lighting levels are bright.
Training Rooms
- There are 5 training rooms located off the main corridor.
- The door sizes vary from 80cms - 140cms.
- The doors are heavy and open away from you (push).
- There is a mix of seating available from height adjustable with no armrest to static chairs with armrests.
- The fixed desks are at a height of 75cms.
Toilet with Adaptations
- Accessible toilet facilities are available.
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Location and Access
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- The toilet is not for the sole use of disabled people.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- This accessible toilet is located to the right of the main corridor.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 11m (12yd 1in) from the Medical Education Training Suite.
- There is level access to this accessible toilet.
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Features and Dimensions
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- This is a shared toilet.
- A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
- The door opens outwards.
- The door is locked by a twist lock.
- The door is heavy.
- The width of the accessible toilet door is 80cm (2ft 7in).
- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 197cm x 200cm (6ft 6in x 6ft 7in).
- The accessible toilet does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
- There is a lateral transfer space.
- As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
- The lateral transfer space is 123cm (4ft).
- The lateral transfer space was obstructed at the time of the survey.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- There is a flush on the transfer side.
- There is not a spatula type lever flush.
- The tap type is lever.
- There is a mixer tap.
- There is not an emergency alarm.
- Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
- There is a/are female sanitary and waste paper pedal bin disposal units.
- There is not a flashing fire alarm beacon within the cubicle.
- There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
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Position of Fixtures
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- Wall mounted grab rails are available for the toilet.
- As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
- There is a shelf within the accessible toilet.
- The shelf is not higher than 95cm (3ft 1in).
- There is not a mirror.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 45cm (1ft 6in).
- There is not a hand dryer.
- There is a towel dispenser.
- The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The height of the towel dispenser is 107cm (3ft 6in).
- There is a toilet roll holder.
- The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- There is a soap dispenser.
- The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 107cm.
- There is a wash basin.
- The wash basin cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
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Colour Contrast and Lighting
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- There is a high visual contrast between the internal door and wall.
- The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
- There is a poor colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
- The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is poor.
- The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rails to the left of the toilet and wall is poor.
- The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rails to the right of the toilet and wall is poor.
- The toilet seat colour contrast is fair.
- The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
- The lighting levels are medium.
Standard Toilet(s)
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Availability and Location of Standard Toilets
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- Standard toilet facilities are not available.
Related Access Guides
- To view other Detailed Access Guides that are related to this one please use the links below.
- Whipps Cross University Hospital - Getting To and Getting Around the Hospital link (new tab) - click here.
- Whipps Cross University Hospital - Parking link (new tab) - click here.
- Whipps Cross University Hospital - Entrances link (new tab) - click here.
