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West Berkshire Community Hospital - Main Building

London Road, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 3AS

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Access Guide

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Overview (West Berkshire Community Hospital)

  • About View
    • This is a community hospital with multiple services available.
    • Facilities available in the venue include: Patient Information Point (PIP), League of Friends Tea Bar, The Gallery Café, a prayer room.
    • View information on opening times
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • 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 ground floor and first floor can be accessed via a standard lift and stairs.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • There is seating available.
    • There is no hearing assistance system.
    • You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair and walking aids.
    • There is a designated safe space which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
    • The designated safe space is located in the prayer room.
    • Documents are available in the following formats: large print and different languages.
    • There is not a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.
    • Additional facilities/services include: phone charging points and Wi-Fi.

Toilet and Changing Facilities (West Berkshire Community Hospital)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 2 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on the ground floor along the main corridor.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.

Parking (West Berkshire Community Hospital)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located in front of the main hospital building.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 15+ designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 227cm (width) x 468cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides but not at the rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 120cm.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a slight ramp or slope.
    • There is a dropped kerb with tactile paving from the designated Blue Badge parking.
    • The distance from the Blue Badge bays to the main hospital entrance is 35m. Those using the services at Hillcroft House, which this site is shared with, also park here and will then make their way over to Hillcroft House. The distance from the Blue Badge bays to Hillcroft House is 80m.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for visitors and Blue Badge holders only.
    • Parking is not free for all users.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are available.
    • Payment machines are located at the main hospital reception.
    • There is not 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).
    • View information on parking policies/charges (opens new tab).
    • Blue Badge holders must enter their registration on the touchscreen and show their Blue Badge at the main hospital reception to receive free parking. Users of Hillcroft House must also pay for parking on exit in the main hospital building.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is a designated drop-off point available.
    • The designated drop-off point is located at the front of the main hospital building.
    • There is a slight slope from the drop-off point to the main hospital entrance.

Entrance (Main Hospital Entrance)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • The approach to the entrance has bollards.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • The height of the hand sanitiser is 123cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 151cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors .
  • The second set of doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 150cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The second set of doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • The minimum width between the bollards is 109cm.

Reception (Main Hospital Reception)

  • The reception is located ahead as you enter the hospital.
  • The distance from the main hospital entrance is 5m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 104cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 77cm.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • The height of the touchscreen display ranges from 93cm to 112cm from the floor.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • The flooring is shiny.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the seating area (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
  • Seating available in this area includes: chairs with armrests.
  • The seating is fixed.

Getting Around (West Berkshire Community Hospital)

  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas, this may include the use of a lift.
  • The flooring is shiny.
  • There is a high visual contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise.
  • Wayfinding signage is provided.
  • Signage is clearly visible with high contrasting colours.
  • The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout.
  • Seating available in the walkways includes: chairs with armrests and chairs without armrests.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.

Lift (West Berkshire Community Hospital)

  • The lift surveyed is located to the left as you enter the main hospital entrance.
  • The distance from the main hospital entrance is 7m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The ground floor and first floor are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a high 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 low visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 130cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 175cm (width) x 274cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a low 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 visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There are other lifts available at this location which are of a similar size.

Stairs (West Berkshire Community Hospital)

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the right as you enter the main hospital entrance.
  • The ground floor and first floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps have low visual contrast markings and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the ground floor along the main corridor.
    • The distance from the main hospital entrance is 16m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is Braille, pictorial, written text and dementia friendly signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 81cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a medium visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 167cm (width) x 214cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 101cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 43cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 96cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 74cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rail is on the right as you face the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a medium visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a medium visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 124cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 111cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor visual contrast varies between low and high.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the ground floor along the main corridor.
    • The distance from the main hospital entrance is 16m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is written text, Braille, dementia friendly and pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 81cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 166cm (width) x 210cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 101cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush on the non-transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • There are vertical grab rails on both sides of the toilet.
    • The vertical grab rails have varying visual contrasts.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 43cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 100cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 73cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rail is on the left as you face the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a medium visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 125cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a sanitary bin and a waste bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 140cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor visual contrast varies between low and high.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.