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Royal Bolton Hospital - N Block Building Guide

Minerva Road, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 0JR

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Access Guide

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Getting To The Hospital

  • By Road View
    • Leave the M61 motorway at junction 5 and take the A58 towards Wigan.
      At the next roundabout take the A6 towards Walkden.
      Carry on along the A6 for about a mile, then turn left at the junction and follow the A579 towards Bolton.
      Cross over the motorway then take the first right onto Plodder Lane.
      Continue along Plodder Lane for 1.5 miles then turn left into Redgate Way where the hospital will be signposted.
      Carry on along this road and the hospital site will be ahead.
    • There are several open-air car parks available throughout the hospital site which provide standard and Blue-Badge parking.
      There is a drop-off point immediately in front of the main hospital entrance.
  • By Bus View
    • The nearest bus stops are immediately opposite the main entrance and are served by buses 501, 521 and 557. These provide direct services to Bolton, Farnworth, Blackrod, Little Lever, Westhoughton and Moses Gate.
    • There is an onsite bus stop.
    • The bus stops are located either side of the road directly opposite the main hospital entrance.
    • The bus stops on both side of the road are sheltered.
      There is a small amount of bench seating and there is sufficient room for a wheelchair user to wait.
    • The bus stops are between 50 and 75 metres from the main hospital entrance.
      These are on either side of the main road that runs through the hospital site. A nearby pelican crossing allows access to the entrance from the bus stop on the far side of the road. This crossing has slight gradients down to the dropped kerbs and tactile paving.
      For the nearer bus stop there is an unmarked crossing which also has slight gradients down to dropped kerbs and tactile paving.
  • By Train View
    • The nearest train station is Moses Gate which is 1.7 miles away on Bolton Road. This station provides direct services to and from Bolton, Manchester Victoria, Wigan Wallgate, Southport, Rochdale, Clitheroe and Blackburn.
  • Useful Links View

Getting Help and Assistance

  • To see the hospital map please click here (opens new tab).
  • There is a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital.
  • The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is located on the left just after coming through the main hospital entrance.
  • The telephone number for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is 01204 390 193.
  • The email address for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is [email protected].
  • There are volunteers available for help and assistance at the hospital.
  • Volunteers can be found opposite the main reception desk.
  • Documents are available in an alternative format and can be provided to include: large print and different languages.
  • There is not an assistance dog toilet or toileting area on the hospital site.
  • Water bowls for assistance dogs are available on request.
  • BSL interpreters can be provided on request.
  • Language interpreters can be provided on request.
  • A mobility scooter charging point is not available at the hospital.
  • Mobility aids are available to help patients move around and include; wheelchairs, tri wheel walkers, walking frames, walking sticks, mobile hoists, hoist slings, adjustable beds and crutches.
  • To obtain mobility aids please contact the main reception desk.
  • There is a Safe Place at this hospital which is located near J Block.

Hospital Parking (N Block)

  • Parking View
    • The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
    • The car park is located directly in front of the building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park does not have a barrier control system.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • There is a/are Blue Badge parking bay(s) available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • There is/are 4 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the hospital car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 231cm x 480cm (7ft 7in x 15ft 9in).
    • There is a 120cm hatched zone around the Blue Badge parking bay(s).
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point.
  • Paying View
    • There are parking charges for the hospital car park.
    • Payment signs are provided.
    • Payment signs are clearly presented.
    • Payment signs are located throughout the car park.
    • Payment signs do make it clear if parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • Payment machines are located close to the Blue Badge parking bays.
    • There is not a payment machine at a convenient height for wheelchair users.
  • Access to the Hospital View
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is/are slopes/ramps.
    • The hospital entrance is clearly visible from the car park.
    • The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 17m (18yd 1ft) from the Acute Therapies entrance.
  • Comments View
    • To obtain free parking please ring 0333 123 1454, or visit the iFM Bolton Car Park Management office located at Shawcross House with your Blue Badge and full, correct vehicle registration to register for a permit until your Blue Badge expires.

Outside Access (Acute Therapies / Workforce Directorate / Employee Service Centre)

  • Entrance Details View
    • This information is for the entrance located to the left of the Blue Badge bays.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is a dark mat or floor marking at this entrance that might be perceived as a hole.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is an intercom.
    • The height of the intercom is 145cm (4ft 9in).
    • There is not a hand sanitiser.
    • There is a door release button when exiting.
    • The height of the door release button is 135cm (4ft 5in).
    • Standard manual wheelchairs are available for people to borrow at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
    • The width of the door opening is 141cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 1.5cm or below.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 176cm.
  • Ramp/Slope Details View
    • The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is steep.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the ramp.
    • The handrail(s) is/are on the right going up the ramp.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building via lift(s).
  • Circulation View
    • There are doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
    • The type of flooring in walkways and corridors is carpet and vinyl.
    • There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • Handrails are not provided in corridors.
    • Seating is provided in some corridors.
    • There is high visual contrast between the walls and floor in the majority of corridors.
    • The lighting levels are varied.
  • Signage and Wayfinding View
    • Wayfinding signage is provided.
    • The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout the building.
    • The wayfinding signage does not include pictograms.
    • Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
  • Safe Place(s) View
    • There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
  • Audio View
    • This venue does not play background music in public areas.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system in the public areas of the building.

Other Floors

  • Stairs View
    • Signs indicating the location of the stairs are not clearly visible from the entrance.
    • There are manual, double doors which may be difficult to open to enter and exit the stairwell on the first floor.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • There is a landing.
    • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor of the building are provided on landings.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to the right as you enter.
  • Signs indicating the location of this lift are not clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 3m (3yd 10in) from the entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G, 1.
  • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on lift lobby landings.
  • There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
  • Lift doors do contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
  • The external controls for the lift are within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is low.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is high.
  • The clear door width is 130cm (4ft 3in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 150cm x 250cm (4ft 11in x 8ft 2in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • There is not a list of floor services available within the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The internal controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is low to moderate.

Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities

  • Accessible toilet facilities are located on the left as you enter via the main hospital entrance, just after the main reception desk, within the Eatwell Restaurant, in the main hospital corridor between D and C Blocks and also within area 5, next to the chapel.
  • Female and male standard toilet facilities are located on the left as you enter via the main hospital entrance, just after the reception desk.
  • Female and male standard toilet facilities are located within the Eatwell Restaurant.
  • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within the accessible toilet near the main entrance and in both accessible toilets on the left of the main hospital corridor between D and C Blocks.

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