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Getting To and Getting Around the Hospital

Pontefract Hospital, Friarwood Lane, Pontefract, WF8 1PL

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Access Guide

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Getting To The Hospital (Pontefract Hospital)

  • By Road View
    • Pontefract Hospital is situated on Friarwood Lane, near the centre of the town.
      The postcode is WF8 1PL.
      Pontefract Hospital can be accessed via the M18 (A1).
    • The main car parks at Pontefract Hospital are opposite the main building on Friarwood Lane.
      A parking ticket is collected on arrival and used to pay when leaving the hospital.
      There is accessible parking located outside the main entrance and Urgent Treatment Centre entrance.
  • By Bus View
    • The hospital offers a free bus service carrying visitors between Dewsbury, Pontefract and Wakefield hospitals.
      Service 113 takes patients and visitors between the three hospitals, seven days a week.
      Metro's online journey planner can be used to start to plan the journey by bus.
      Metroline phone number is 0113 245 7676.
      Metroline is open from 7am to 10pm daily (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day).
    • There is an onsite bus stop.
    • The onsite bus stop is close to the hospital main entrance, on Friarwood Lane.
    • The bus stop is sheltered with bench seating and space for a wheelchair user.
    • The bus stop is located 58m from the hospital main entrance.
      The route from the bus stop to the main entrance is a slight uphill slope before levelling out on the approach to the main entrance.
      There are bollards on the approach with a minimum distance of 140cm between them.
  • By Train View
    • The nearest train station is Pontefract - Baghill station, located 0.6km away.
  • Useful Links View

Getting Help and Assistance (Pontefract Hospital)

  • To see the hospital map please click here (opens new tab).
  • There is not a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital.
  • The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is located at Pinderfields Hospital Wakefield.
  • The telephone number for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is 01924 542 972.
  • 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 hospital main reception desk.
  • Documents are available in an alternative format and can be provided to include: Braille on request and large print 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, walking frames, mobile hoists, adjustable beds and crutches.
  • To obtain mobility aids please contact the hospital main reception.
  • Additional hospital services link (new tab) - click here.

Getting Around (Pontefract 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 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 corridors.
    • Seating is provided in some corridors.
    • There is high visual contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Signage and Wayfinding View
    • Wayfinding signage is provided.
    • The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout the building.
    • 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.

Waiting Room / Area (Main Waiting Area)

  • There is a waiting room / area.
  • The waiting room / area is approximately 10m from the main entrance.
  • There is level access into the waiting room / area.
  • There is not a/are not door(s) into the waiting room / area.
  • The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
  • There is a space for a wheelchair user to wait within the seating area.
  • All chairs are permanently fixed.
  • All chairs have armrests.
  • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • Announcements are visual.
  • 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 a television.
  • Subtitles are not available.
  • Vending machines are 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.

Lift (Main Hospital Lifts)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located on 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 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 A, B, C and D.
  • 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 medium.
  • The clear door width is 110cm (3ft 7in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 196cm x 138cm (6ft 5in x 4ft 6in).
  • 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 not a hearing assistance system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is good.

Lift (Friarwood Lane Entrance Lifts)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located around to the left as you enter through the Friarwood Lane entrance.
  • Signs indicating the location of this lift are clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 12m (13yd 4in) from the Friarwood Lane 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 A, B, C and D.
  • There are manual, double doors which may be difficult to open to access the lift lobby on the first floor, on the second floor and on the third floor.
  • 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 high.
  • The clear door width is 134cm (4ft 5in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 176cm x 274cm (5ft 9in x 8ft 12in).
  • 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 not 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 good.

Other Floors (Main Stairway)

  • Stairs View
    • Signs indicating the location of the stairs are not clearly visible from the entrance.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are A, B and C.
    • 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 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 (Friarwood Lane Stairway)

  • Stairs View
    • Signs indicating the location of the stairs are 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 A, B, C and D.
    • 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 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 good.

Amenities