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Getting To and Getting Around Withington Community Hospital

Withington Community Hospital, Nell Lane, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2LR

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Access Guide

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Getting To The Hospital (Withington Community Hospital)

Getting Help and Assistance (Withington Community Hospital)

  • There is not a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital.
  • The telephone number for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is 0161 276 8686.
  • 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 at the volunteer help point near the main hospital entrance.
  • Documents are available in an alternative format and can be provided to include: Braille, 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.
  • There is a Safe Place at this hospital which is located in the quiet room on the corridor to the left of the Hive Café.
  • To view the Safe Place Accessibility Guide please click here.
  • Comments View
    • A limited number of wheelchairs are available at the main hospital entrance.
    • PALS do not have a physical presence at the hospital but can be contacted using the email or telephone number supplied.

Getting Around (Withington Community Hospital)

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building via lift(s).
  • Circulation View
    • There are not doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
    • The type of flooring in walkways and corridors is vinyl.
    • There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • Handrails are provided in corridors.
    • Seating is provided in corridors.
    • There is low 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 includes pictograms.
    • Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
    • Maps are provided at key intersections.
    • The hospital uses colour coding to differentiate between different parts of the hospital.
  • Safe Place(s) View
    • There is a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
    • The place of safety is the quiet room located along the corridor to the left of the Hive Café.
  • 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 (Opposite Lifts)

  • Stairs View
    • Signs indicating the location of the stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G and 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 not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do 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 varied.

Other Floors (Outpatients/Main Reception)

  • Stairs View
    • Signs indicating the location of the stairs are not clearly visible from the entrance.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G and 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 not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do 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 good.

Other Floors (End of Main Corridor)

  • Stairs View
    • Signs indicating the location of the stairs are not clearly visible from the entrance.
    • There are manual, single doors which may be difficult to open to enter and exit the stairwell on all floors.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G and 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 not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • There is a landing.
    • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor of the building are not provided on landings.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.

Lift (Main Lift - L1)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located on the right along the main corridor.
  • Signs indicating the location of this lift are clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 31m (33yd 2ft) from the main hospital 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 and 1.
  • 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 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 low.
  • The clear door width is 131cm (4ft 4in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 135cm x 240cm (4ft 5in x 7ft 10in).
  • 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 not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is moderate to good.

Lift (Main Lift - L2)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located on the right along the main corridor.
  • Signs indicating the location of this lift are clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 28m (30yd 1ft) from the main hospital 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 and 1.
  • 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 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 low.
  • The clear door width is 80cm (2ft 7in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 110cm x 140cm (3ft 7in x 4ft 7in).
  • 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 not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is good.

Amenities (Withington Community Hospital)

  • Shops and Services View
    • The shops/services available include; a coffee shop.
  • ATM Machines View
    • There is not an/are not ATM machine(s) available.
  • Pay Phones and Charging Points View
    • Pay phones are available.
    • The pay phone(s) is/are located next to the Hive Café.
    • The pay phone(s) is/are cash only payment.
    • A low level pay phone (controls between 75cm - 100cm from floor level) is not available.
    • Phone charging points are not available.
  • Public WiFi View
    • Free public WiFi is available.
    • NHS Wi-Fi is provided free of charge at the hospital.
      Just follow the prompts when choosing this wifi network and you will be connected.
  • TV Pre-Payment Machines View
    • There are no TV pre-pay machines for patients.