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Discharge Lounge

Antrim Area Hospital, Bush Road, Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT41 2RL

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Access Guide

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Overview (Antrim Area Hospital)

  • About View
    • This is an acute hospital with multiple services available.
    • Facilities available in the venue include: a pharmacy, a chapel, a hospital shop, a cash office, Ground Floor Coffee Bar and Loughview Restaurant.
    • View information on opening times
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free access via a very easy slope at the most accessible entrance.
    • There are 2 main entrances at Antrim Area Hospital which are located at the front of the main hospital building.
      One entrance has an automatic door and one has a revolving door.
    • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas, this may include the use of a lift.
    • The following areas have step-free access via ramps or slopes: there is a slight ramp to access the Pre-Admission Unit and Ward C7 on Level C of the main hospital building.
    • Access throughout may include doors permanently held open.
    • Levels A, B and C can be accessed via a standard lift and stairs.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • There is seating available.
    • There is a fixed hearing assistance system.
    • You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair.
    • British Sign Language interpreters can be provided on request.
    • Documents are available in the following formats: Braille (on request), large print (on request) and different languages (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: an ATM machine, phone charging points and Wi-Fi.
    • Staff receive the following training: manual handling training.

Parking (Main Entrance - Blue Badge Holders and Drop Off Only)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located in front of the main hospital entrance.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of block paving.
    • There are 5 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 424cm (width) x 490cm (depth).
    • The hatched/marked zones vary between bays.
    • The width of the marked zone is 122cm.
    • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bays vary in size.
    • The nearest designated bay is 7m from the main hospital entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has slight ramps or slopes and uneven surfaces.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for Blue Badge holders only.
    • Parking is not free for Blue Badge holders.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are available.
    • Payment machines are located close to the Blue Badge parking bays and inside the main building.
    • There is not a payment machine with controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • View information on parking policies/charges (opens new tab).
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is a designated drop-off point available.
    • The designated drop-off point is located at the entrance to the car park, on the left.
    • There is a 15 minute maximum wait time at this drop off point.

Parking (Car Park 1 - Main Patient and Visitor Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located at the front of the main hospital building.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 15+ designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 230cm (width) x 480cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides but not at the rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 130cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 25m from the main hospital entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has slight ramps or slopes.
    • There is a dropped kerb with tactile paving from the designated Blue Badge parking.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for visitors and Blue Badge holders only.
    • Parking is not free for all users.
    • Parking is not free for Blue Badge holders.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are available.
    • Payment machines are located outside the main hospital entrance and inside the hospital building.
    • There is not a payment machine with controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • View information on parking policies/charges (opens new tab).
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Getting To (The Discharge Lounge)

  • The Discharge Lounge is/are located on level B of the hospital.
  • Access to the Discharge Lounge is via the Main Entrance.
  • Enter via the Main Entrance and the Discharge Lounge is located along the corridor directly in front of you, on the right hand side.
  • There is step free access to the Discharge Lounge.
  • The Discharge Lounge is approximately 10m from the Main Entrance.
  • Wayfinding signage is provided.
  • Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
  • There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.

Entrance (Main Hospital Entrance - Automatic Door)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the main hospital building, to the right of the revolving doors.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via a very easy slope at the entrance.
  • There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • There is a push pad at a height of 100cm.
  • The width of the opening is 119cm.
  • The door has a low visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 104cm.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.
  • This entrance gives access to Level B of the main hospital building.

Opening Times (Discharge Lounge)

  • Monday 09:00 - 23:00.
  • Tuesday 09:00 - 23:00.
  • Wednesday 09:00 - 23:00.
  • Thursday 09:00 - 23:00.
  • Friday 09:00 - 23:00.
  • Saturday Closed.
  • Sunday Closed.

Department / Service (Discharge Lounge)

  • Department / Service Access View
    • The Discharge Lounge is located on level B, along the corridor directly in front of you as you enter the hospital, on the right hand side.
    • There is a/are door(s) leading into the department/service.
    • The door(s) open(s) automatically (away from you).
    • The automatic door(s) is/are push pad activated.
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 166cm.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is a hand sanitiser.
    • The height of the hand sanitiser is 127cm (4ft 2in).
    • There is a door release button when exiting.
    • The height of the door release button is 110cm (3ft 7in).
    • There is level access throughout the department/service.
    • There is clear signage on the department/service.
    • The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
    • There is some flooring in the department/service which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • The department/service does play background music.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Department / Service Facilities View
    • This department/service has; a waiting room/area and ambulant toilet facilities for everyone.
    • A hearing assistance system is not available in the department/service.
    • There are accessible toilet facilities within the department/service.
    • There are not standard toilet facilities within this department/service.
  • Comments View
    • The Discharge Lounge is an open plan area for patients waiting to be discharged from the hospital.

Waiting Room / Area (Discharge Lounge)

  • There is a waiting room / area.
  • The waiting room / area is approximately 2m from the Discharge Lounge entrance.
  • There is level access 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.
  • No chairs are permanently fixed.
  • Some chairs with armrests are available.
  • No tables are permanently fixed.
  • The surface height of the lowest table is 78cm.
  • The surface height of the highest table is 80cm.
  • The tables do contrast visually with the floor.
  • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • Announcements are in person.
  • The waiting room / area does have background music playing.
  • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the waiting room / area.
  • There is a television.
  • Subtitles are available.
  • Vending machines are not 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 moderate to good.
  • Comments View
    • This is a waiting area for patients being discharged from the hospital.
    • There are currently social distancing rules in place so capacity is limited.

Toilet with Adaptations (Discharge Lounge - Right Hand Transfer)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located straight ahead as you enter the Discharge Lounge.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 5m from the Discharge Lounge entrance.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is high.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The door is locked by a locking handle.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 87cm (2ft 10in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is high.
    • The door does not have a horizontal grab rail.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 130cm x 160cm (4ft 3in x 5ft 3in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The height of the light switch/pull cord is 103cm from floor level.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 61cm.
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a waste disposal bin.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • There is not a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The visual contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is high.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on the right.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is not a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is high.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is medium.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are clinical waste disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
    • The height of the coat hook is 157cm from the floor.
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • The toilet does not have a backrest or a cistern.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is high.
    • 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).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 86cm (2ft 10in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is medium.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 80cm (2ft 7in).
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the right hand side of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is medium.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 118cm.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the towel dispenser is 120cm (3ft 11in).
    • The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is high.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
  • Comments View
    • The Accessible toilet is a shared toilet facility for people of all abilities.

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