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The St Margarets Community Hospital - The Hollies

The Plain, Epping, Essex, CM16 6TN

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Access Guide

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Getting Here

  • By Road View
    • St Margaret's Community Hospital is located in the north east corner of Epping, just off The Plain - the B181 to North Weald Bassett. Epping can be accessed via Junction 26 of the M25, and Junction 7 from the M11.
    • There are 3 main public car parks at the front of the site. The car parks to the side of the Epping Forest Unit and the Out-Patients Department contain Blue Badge bays. There is also pay and display parking (free for Blue Badge holders) available throughout the site.
  • By Bus View
    • There are various services that run to the Hospital from Harlow, Loughton, Waltham Cross and Ongar, as well as Epping. The Excel 333 service runs from Stansted to Epping (town centre) every hour.
  • By Train View
    • There is no overland train service at Epping. The nearest stations are Waltham Cross, Cheshunt and Harlow Town, which are served by the Greater Anglia network.
  • By Underground View
    • Epping Underground station, at the end of the Central Line, is located in the town, approximately 1 mile from the hospital.
  • Useful Links View

Bus Stop(s) and Drop-off Point(s)

  • Bus Stop(s) View
    • There is an onsite bus stop.
    • The bus stop is located outside the Epping Forest Unit main entrance.
    • The bus stop is sheltered, and has bench seating with arm rests either end. There is space for a wheelchair user to wait at this bus stop.
    • From the bus stop, follow the path past the cafe. This is level and has a concrete tile surface. Once past the cafe take the dropped kerb, with tactile paving, down to the car park. Continue past the Blue Badge bays and then cross the service road. These areas have level access and a tarmac surface. Use the dropped kerb, without tactile paving, by the drop off point to access the pavement in front of the entrance. This route is approximately 50 metres long.
  • Drop-off Point(s) View
    • There is a/are clearly marked onsite drop-off point(s).
    • The drop off point is located directly in front of the entrances.
    • Take the dropped kerb, without tactile paving, from the drop off point to the entrances. The drop off point is 2 metres from the entrances.

Parking

  • Parking View
    • The venue does have a dedicated car park.
    • The car park is located to the 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 clearly marked/signposted Blue Badge parking bay(s) available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) markings are faded.
    • There is/are 4 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 320cm x 490cm (10ft 6in x 16ft 1in).
    • There is not a 1200mm hatched zone around the Blue Badge parking bay(s).
    • Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders do not need to be booked in advance.
    • There are additional car parks for staff and visitors.
    • There are additional car parks located throughout the hospital site.
  • Paying View
    • There are parking charges for the car park.
    • Payment signs are provided.
    • Payment signs are clearly presented.
    • Payment signs are located at the payment machines in the car park.
    • Payment signs do make it clear if parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • To see the parking charges please click here (opens new tab).
    • Payment machines are located The payment machine is located in the centre of the car park.
    • There is not a payment machine at a convenient height for wheelchair users.
    • There is a level turning space (minimum 185cm x 210cm) in front of the payment machine(s).
  • Access from the Car Park 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 dropped kerbs.
    • The entrance is clearly visible from the car park.
    • The surface on the approach to the entrance is tarmac.
    • There is no tactile paving on dropped kerbs between the car park and the entrance.
    • The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 19m (20yd 2ft) from the main entrance.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance Details View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is step free 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.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 151cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
  • Comments View
    • There are two identical entrances at the front of the building.
    • The details here are for the entrance on the right as you face the building.
    • The entrance to the left is identical.
    • These entrances lead to separate corridors, which are not linked internally.

Getting Around The Building

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building.
  • Circulation View
    • There are not doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
    • There are corridors with a surface width of less than 120cm (excluding any permanent obstructions over a small distance).
    • The type of flooring in walkways and corridors is vinyl.
    • There is some flooring in corridors with a very shiny finish which could cause issues with glare or be perceived as slippery.
    • There is good colour contrast between the walls and floor in all corridors.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • Lighting levels of at least 100 lux at floor level, were recorded in all corridors surveyed.
  • Signage View
    • Wayfinding 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 a hearing assistance system in the public areas of the building.
    • The system is a portable loop.
    • The portable hearing loop is available from the main reception, in the Epping Forest Unit.
    • The hearing assistance system is available only on request.

Toilet with Adaptations

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) within this venue designated for public use.
  • Location and Access View
    • The accessible toilet surveyed is for the sole use of disabled people.
    • This accessible toilet is located on the left of the corridor leading from the right hand side main entrance.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 9m (9yd 2ft) from the main entrance.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is no signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is locked by a lever twist.
    • The door is heavy.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 80cm (2ft 7in).
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 148cm x 198cm (4ft 10in x 6ft 6in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm in front of the seat.
    • The toilet has a non slip floor.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 78cm (2ft 7in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is not an emergency alarm.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are pedal bin disposal units.
    • There is not a flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • There is not a standard shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • There is not a colostomy changing shelf for standing users next to the toilet.
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The toilet has a cistern.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • There is a soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the towel dispenser is 105cm (3ft 5in).
    • There is not a hand dryer.
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • Lighting levels are at least 100 lux at floor level.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Access to Standard Shared Toilet(s) View
    • The shared toilets that were surveyed are located on the left hand side of the corridor leading from the right hand side main entrance.
    • The shared toilet(s) is/are approximately 10m (10yd 2ft) from the main entrance right.
    • Inside the venue, there is level access to the shared toilet(s).
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet with wall mounted grab rails is not available.
    • Lighting levels are good.
    • Lighting levels are at least 100 lux at floor level.
  • Comments View
    • There is also a shared toilet located off the corridor leading from the left hand side main entrance, shown in photograph 2.

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