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Drive Ability North West

193 Newton Road, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 2JR

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Access Guide

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Overview - Health (Drive Ability North West)

  • About View
    • This is a centre to provide driving support and assessment.
    • There is also a wheelchair assessment service.
    • Facilities available in the venue include: 3 assessment rooms for drivers, and 1 assessment room for wheelchairs.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free access via a steep slope at the most accessible entrance.
    • The most accessible entrance is also the main entrance.
    • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
    • There are no doors along circulation routes.
    • Access throughout may include moveable physical obstructions.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • Seating is available.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
    • You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair, walking aids and a portable hoist.
    • The alternative formats documents can be provided in include: large print (on request).
    • There is not a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.
    • Additional facilities/services include: Wi-Fi.

Parking (Drive Ability North West)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located at the rear of the building.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 2 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 240cm (width) x 480cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides and rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 120cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 20m from the main entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has steep slopes.
    • This route has bollards.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • Parking is free for all users.
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Points View
    • There are no electric vehicle charging points designated for Blue Badge holders.
    • There are 2 electric vehicle charging points.
    • The dimensions of the surveyed electric vehicle charging bay are 235cm (width) x 480cm (depth).
    • The controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • The nozzle holster is at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Main Entrance - (Drive Ability North West)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • The approach to the entrance has a bollard.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via a slope at the entrance.
  • The slope has a steep gradient.
  • There is a bell at a height of 128cm.
  • There are double manual doors.
  • The doors open away from you.
  • The doors require effort to open.
  • The width of the opening is 142cm.
  • The doors have a low colour contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 171cm.
  • The doors have a low colour contrast.

Reception (Drive Ability North West)

  • Location View
    • The reception is located ahead from the main entrance.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 3m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the reception has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access to the reception.
    • The height of the reception desk is 114cm.
    • There is a lowered section at the desk.
    • The height of the lowered section is 76cm.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
    • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
    • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.
    • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the seating area (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
    • Seating available in this area includes: chairs with armrests.

Getting Around (Drive Ability North West)

  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access throughout walkways.
  • Circulation View
    • There are no doors along circulation routes.
    • Access throughout may include moveable physical obstructions.
    • There is a high colour contrast between the walls and floor along circulation routes.
    • There is no (or very little) background noise.
    • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Assessment Room 2 - Wheelchair Service Clinic Room

  • The room is located to the left from the main entrance, to the left of the reception desk.
  • The most accessible route to the room has step-free level access.
  • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
  • There is step-free level access into the room.
  • There is a single manual door.
  • The door opens away from you.
  • The door requires effort to open.
  • There is a locked extension leaf.
  • The width of the opening is 88cm.
  • The door has a high colour contrast.
  • There is step-free level access throughout.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
  • The walls and floor have a high colour contrast.
  • The treatment table is free standing and height adjustable.
  • The length of the treatment table is 180cm.
  • The hoist for the room is powered overhead and accesses the treatment table.
  • Seating available in this room includes: chairs with armrests.
  • Furniture available in this room includes: desks.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this room.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Assessment Room 3

  • The room surveyed was Assessment Room 3.
  • The room is located to the left from the main entrance.
  • The most accessible route to the room has step-free level access.
  • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • There is written text and numbered signage on or near the door.
  • There is step-free level access into the room.
  • There is a single manual door.
  • The door opens away from you.
  • The door requires effort to open.
  • The width of the opening is 81cm.
  • The door has a low colour contrast.
  • There is step-free level access throughout.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
  • The walls and floor have a high colour contrast.
  • There is a mobile hoist for this room.
  • There is not sufficient space next to the treatment table for a mobile hoist to operate.
  • Seating available in this room includes: chairs with armrests.
  • Furniture available in this room includes: desks.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this room.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Toilet with Adaptations (Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the left from the main entrance.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 8m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high colour contrast.
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The width of the opening is 88cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door, with a high colour contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 138cm (width) x 280cm (depth).
    • There is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 72cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush for the toilet.
    • The flush is on the non-transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a dropdown grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown grab rail has a high colour contrast.
    • The toilet seat has a high colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a varying colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 102cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The wash basin and tap can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 69cm from the floor.
    • There are vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high colour contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low colour contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 124cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a low colour contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 112cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it was tied up at the time of the survey.
    • There is a long mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a nappy/incontinence items bin, a sanitary bin and a pedal bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor have a high colour contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.