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Changing Places - Frontage Building

Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH

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Access Guide

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Getting To The Hospital

  • By Road View
    • Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is located in central London within the congestion zone. The hospital encourage, where possible, that visitors travel by walking or taking public transport to minimise air pollution and help the patients to breathe better.
    • There is no onsite parking at the hospital site with very limited on-street parking in the surrounding roads. Visitors who use the permit system to park here may not be able to find a parking space. The hospital encourages people to use public transport but if this is not possible they advise using local car parks.
  • By Bus View
    • Several bus routes are a short walk from GOSH, and low-floor, wheelchair accessible buses run on all routes.
  • By Train View
    • Kings Cross, Euston and Farringdon Station are all approximately 1 mile from Great Ormond Street. The hospital website gives information on options for getting to the hospital from various surrounding stations. The link can be found below.
  • By Underground View
    • The nearest tube station is Russell Square which is approximately 0.3 miles away. Russell Square is on the Piccadilly line.
  • Useful Links View

Getting Help and Assistance

  • There is a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital.
  • The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is located in the main reception area.
  • The telephone number for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is 020 7829 7862.
  • 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 do receive disability awareness / equality training.
  • Hospital staff do receive disability awareness / equality training.
  • Volunteers can be found in the main reception area and at key corridor intersections.
  • Hospital staff receive deaf awareness training.
  • The alternative formats documents can be provided in include; Braille on request, large print on request and different languages on request.
  • There is not an assistance dog toilet or toileting area on the hospital site.
  • Water bowls for assistance dogs are available.
  • 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.
  • To obtain mobility aids please contact staff and volunteers in the main reception area.

Public Parking

  • There is no car park or official drop-off point at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The trust advise that parking in nearby streets is both scarce and expensive. Drivers will need to pay the congestion charge to enter central London. The hospital encourage patients to travel to the hospital by public transport or by walking where possible in order to maintain a Clear Air Zone for patients.
  • Blue Badge holders can park in resident parking bays, pay and display spaces or at parking meters free of charge and without a time limit. They can also park on single yellow lines for a maximum of three hours (this only applies in the immediate area of the hospital).
  • There are some on street Blue Badge parking bays in Queen Square which are approximately 200 metres from the main entrance.
  • The dimensions of these bays are 200cm x 630cm.
  • For some parents travelling by car, the hospital may be able to provide a parking permit for a few hours for the day of their child’s appointment, admission or discharge. Parents of children in intensive care are eligible for a parking permit for up to three days in succession. The permit allows you to park on a single yellow line on Guilford Street only. Spaces are limited, are offered on a first come first served basis, and we cannot guarantee a space through issuing a permit. Parking elsewhere will make the permit invalid and put you at risk of getting a parking ticket.

Getting To (Changing Places - Frontage Building)

  • Changing Places - Frontage Building is/are located on Level 1 of the Frontage Building.
  • Access to Changing Places - Frontage Building is via the Main Hospital Entrance.
  • Enter via the Main Hospital Entrance, turn immediately right and enter Cheetah Outpatients. Proceed through Cheetah Outpatients into the Frontage Building lift lobby. Take the lift to Level 1. Exit the lift the Changing Place is located to the right, along the corridor and to the left.
  • There is step free access, via lift, to Changing Places - Frontage Building.
  • Changing Places - Frontage Building is approximately 18m from the Frontage Building 1 lift.
  • Wayfinding signage is not 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.
  • There is some flooring in corridors which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.

Outside Access (Main Hospital Entrance)

  • Entrance Details View
    • This information is for the entrance located in Great Ormond Street.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • There is step free access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • The intercom is not in a suitable position to allow wheelchair users to gain access.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 240cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) automatically.
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 244cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
  • Comments View
    • There are bollards at the start of the walkway that lead up to the entrance from Great Ormond Street.
    • The bollards do not have a good colour contrast with the paving.

Reception

  • Reception View
    • The reception point is located just beyond the main entrance.
    • The reception point is approximately 14m (15yd 11in) from the main 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.
    • The height of the reception counter is medium height (77cm - 109cm).
    • There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the counter.
    • There is a low section of the counter (76cm or below) available.
    • There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the low section of the counter.
    • The counter is staffed.
    • There is a hearing assistance system.
    • The type of system is a portable loop.
    • The hearing assistance system is signed.
    • Staff are trained to use the hearing assistance system.
    • The hearing assistance system was not tested at the time of the survey.
    • Signs and universally accepted symbols or pictograms, indicating lifts, stairs, WCs, circulation routes and other parts of the building are provided in the reception area.
  • Reception Waiting Area View
    • There is a waiting area close to the reception point.
    • Access to the waiting area is unobstructed.
    • The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
    • There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to use the waiting area.
    • There are soft bench seats without armrests.
    • The waiting room / area does not have background music playing.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the waiting room / area.
    • There is not a television.
    • Vending machines are not available.
    • A water dispenser is not available.
    • There is not a play area or toys/books for a child to play with.
    • There is space for an assistance dog to rest within the seating area.
    • Lighting levels are good.

Other Floors (Frontage Building)

  • Stairs View
    • There are manual doors to enter and exit the stairwell on all floors.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • Handrails are not 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 second lower handrail.
    • There is a landing.
    • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor of the building are provided on landings.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Escalators View
    • The lighting levels are good.

Lift (Frontage Building - Lift 1)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located in the Frontage Building, beyond the outpatients waiting area.
  • Signs indicating the location of this lift are clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 45m (49yd 8in) from the main 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 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
  • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are 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 not within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is good.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is good.
  • The clear door width is 120cm.
  • The dimensions of the lift are 130cm x 206cm.
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • There is 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 a hearing assistance system.
  • The lift does not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is good.

Changing Places

  • Location and Access View
    • The facility is located in Djanogly Outpatients on level 1 of the frontage building.
    • The facility is approximately 18m (19yd 2ft) from the lift.
    • There is level access into the facility.
    • The facility surveyed is not for the sole use of disabled people.
    • The colour contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • The colour contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
    • You do not need a key for the facility.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is heavy.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The width of the door is 85cm (2ft 9in).
    • The dimensions of the facility are 441cm x 335cm.
    • There is a clear 200cm x 180cm manoeuvring space in the facility.
    • The facility has a non-slip floor.
    • The colour contrast between the walls and floor is good.
  • Toilet Details View
    • The facility toilet has a transfer space on both sides.
    • The transfer space on the right as you face the toilet is 211cm (6ft 11in).
    • The transfer space on the left as you face the toilet is 108cm (3ft 7in).
    • Drop down rails are provided.
    • As you face the toilet the drop down rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • The colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is good.
    • As you face the toilet there are vertical grab rails on both sides.
    • The colour contrast between the wall-mounted grab rails to the left of the toilet and wall is good.
    • The colour contrast between the wall-mounted grab rails to the right of the toilet and wall is good.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is a sensor flush.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 85cm.
    • The toilet has a backrest.
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • There is an emergency alarm for the toilet.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is within reach and fully functional.
  • Changing Bench and Hoist Details View
    • The facility changing bench is free standing.
    • The facility changing bench height is fixed.
    • The length of the facility changing bench is 180cm (5ft 11in).
    • The facility hoist is mobile.
  • Shower Details View
    • There is not a shower unit with a detachable shower head.
  • Other Facilities View
    • A privacy screen is not available.
    • The type of wash basin is fixed.
    • The height of the wash basin is 69cm.
    • The wash basin tap type is sensor.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • Wall mounted grab rails are available at the wash basin.
    • As you face the wash basin, the wall mounted grab rails are on both sides.
    • The colour contrast between the wash basin grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • There is a soap dispenser.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 100cm.
    • Wide tear off paper roll is not available.
    • The wide paper roll dispenser is not at the recommended height of 80cm-100cm.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is at the recommended height of 80cm-100cm.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • There is a/are general domestic waste and clinical waste disposal units.
    • There is an emergency alarm for the facility.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is within reach and fully functional.
    • There is a coat hook.
    • There are coat hooks in the toilet at 126cm and 167cm from the floor.
    • There is a flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • The lighting levels are good.

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