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Southend University Hospital - Getting To and Getting Around the Hospital

Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 0RY

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Access Guide

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Getting To The Hospital (Southend University Hospital)

  • By Road View
    • Southend University Hospital is well signposted from most areas in Southend-on-Sea.
      If travelling from outside of Southend-on-Sea, there is easy access to the hospital site via Fairfax Drive and Prittlewell Chase, signed from the A127 Victoria Avenue.
      The post code for a sat nav is SS0 0RY.
      There are 6 different entrances to the hospital site when arriving via car.
    • Southend University Hospital has multiple car parks.
      The car parks operate through automatic number plate recognition (ANPR).
      Visitors must pay at the machine before exiting.
  • By Bus View
    • Up to 20 buses an hour serve Southend University Hospital from both within the town of Basildon and beyond.
      There are bus stops located on Prittlewell Chase, outside the hospital grounds.
    • There is not an onsite bus stop.
  • By Train View
    • The nearest station is Prittlewell, approximately 1.1 miles away, with direct links to Southend Victoria, London Liverpool Street.
      Regular buses run to the hospital from the train station.
      Tickets can be bought on the bus.
  • Useful Links View

Getting Help and Assistance (Southend University Hospital)

  • To see the hospital map please click here (opens new tab).
  • There is a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital.
  • The telephone number for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is 0300 443 0330.
  • 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 most of the major entrances.
  • Documents are available in an alternative format and can be provided to include: Braille on request, large print on request, Makaton on request, different languages on request, voice recognition CD on request and audio on request.
  • 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, mobile hoists, hoist slings and adjustable beds.
  • To obtain mobility aids please contact the main reception.

Getting Around (Southend University Hospital)

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building via lift(s).
    • There is a slight ramp, with handrails on both sides, for access to the Tower Block from the Hillborough building.
    • The ramp or slope does bypass the step(s).
    • There is/are 3 clearly marked step(s), with handrails on both sides, for access to the Tower Block from the Hillborough Building.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is a slight ramp, with handrails on both sides, for access to the Hillborough building from the main hospital corridor.
  • 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 includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • 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 some 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 includes some pictograms.
    • Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
    • Maps are provided at key intersections.
  • 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.

Lift (Cardigan Building - Lifts 26 and 27)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located in the Cardigan Building, off the main hospital corridor.
  • Signs indicating the location of this lift are not clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 26m (28yd 1ft) from the Cardigan Building 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 and 2.
  • 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 127cm (4ft 2in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 133cm x 283cm (4ft 4in x 9ft 3in).
  • 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 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.

Other Floors (Cardigan Building - Opposite Lifts 26 and 27)

  • 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, 1 and 2.
    • 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 not 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 not provided on landings.
    • The lighting levels are varied.

Lift (Prittlewell Building - Lifts 15 and 24)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located in the Prittlewell Building, off the main hospital corridor.
  • Signs indicating the location of this lift are not clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 21m (22yd 2ft) from the Prittlewell Building 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 G, 1 and 2.
  • 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 high.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is high.
  • The clear door width is 115cm (3ft 9in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 142cm x 240cm (4ft 8in 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 a hearing assistance system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is moderate to good.

Other Floors (Prittlewell Building - Next to Lift 15 and 24)

  • 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 all floors.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1, 2.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not 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 (Prittlewell Building - Lifts 13 and 14)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located in the Prittlewell Building, off the main hospital corridor.
  • Signs indicating the location of this lift are not clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 23m (25yd 6in) from the Prittlewell Building 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 G, 1 and 2.
  • 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 high.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is high.
  • The clear door width is 115cm (3ft 9in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 143cm x 268cm (4ft 8in x 8ft 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 a hearing assistance system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is moderate to good.

Other Floors (Prittlewell Building - Next to Lift 13 and 14)

  • 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 all floors.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1 and 2.
    • 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 not 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 (Tower Block - Lifts 4-8)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located in the Tower Block, off the main hospital corridor.
  • Signs indicating the location of this lift are clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 17m (18yd 1ft) from the Tower Block 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 G, M, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
  • 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 high.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is high.
  • The clear door width is 119cm (3ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 138cm x 227cm (4ft 6in x 7ft 5in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in 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 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.

Other Floors (Tower Block - Opposite Lifts 4-8)

  • 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 mezzanine floor.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, M, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
    • 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 not 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.

Amenities (Southend University Hospital)

  • Shops and Services View
    • The shops/services available include; WHSmith, a pharmacy, a charity shop and coffee shops.
  • 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 off major corridors.
    • The pay phone(s) is/are cash only payment.
    • A low level pay phone (controls between 75cm - 100cm from floor level) is not available.
    • A phone charging point is available.
  • Public WiFi View
    • Free public WiFi is available.
  • TV Pre-Payment Machines View
    • There are TV pre-pay machines for patients.
    • The TV pre-pay machine(s) for patients is/are located off the main hospital corridors.