Access Guide
Getting Here (Birch Hill Hospital)
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By Road
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- Birch Hill is on Birch Road, which is accessed via Halifax Road.
- There is free parking around the hospital.
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By Bus
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- There is a bus stop close to the hospital, on Birch Road where the 458 service runs from Stansfield and Rochdale.
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By Train
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- The closest train station is Smithy Bridge which is 1.3 miles from Birch Hill.
Getting Help and Assistance (Birch Hill Hospital)
- A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not normally on duty.
- British Sign Language interpreters cannot be provided on request.
- Language interpreters can be provided on request.
- There is not a wheelchair to borrow to use around the building.
- Water bowls for assistance dogs are not available.
- There is not a/are not hearing assistance system(s) available.
- Home visits services are not available.
Opening Times (Watergrove Memory Assessment Service)
- Monday 08:30 - 18:00.
- Tuesday 08:30 - 18:00.
- Wednesday 08:30 - 18:00.
- Thursday 08:30 - 18:00.
- Friday 08:30 - 18:00.
- Saturday Closed.
- Sunday Closed.
Hospital Parking (Shared Watergrove and Outpatients)
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Parking
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- The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
- The car parking facilities are for Blue Badge holders only.
- The car park is located on the left side of the Hospital.
- 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 Blue Badge parking bay(s) available.
- The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
- There is/are 4 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the hospital car park.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 465cm x 235cm (15ft 3in x 7ft 9in).
- There is a 120cm hatched zone around the Blue Badge parking bay(s).
- Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders do not need to be booked in advance.
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Drop-off Point
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- There is not a designated drop-off point.
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Paying
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- There are not parking charges for the hospital car park.
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Access to the Hospital
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- The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user unaided.
- The hospital entrance is clearly visible from the car park.
- The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the Watergrove entrance.
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Comments
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- This parking is 8m away from the Outpatients Entrance.
Outside Access (Watergrove Memory Assessment Service)
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Entrance Details
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- This information is for the entrance located on the left side of the hospital.
- The entrance area/door is 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.
- There is a dark mat or floor marking at this entrance that might be perceived as a hole.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- There is not a hand sanitiser.
- There is not a door release button when exiting.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the door opening is 117cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 1.5cm or below.
- There is a second set of doors.
- The door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the door opening is 117cm.
Department / Service (Watergrove Memory Assessment Service)
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Department / Service Access
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- The Watergrove Memory Assessment Service is located on the ground floor of Birch Hill Hospital.
- There is level access throughout the department/service.
- Staff can provide assistance with using any manual doors within the department/service.
- There is clear signage on the department/service.
- The type of flooring is carpet.
- The department/service does not play background music.
- The lighting levels are moderate to good.
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Department / Service Facilities
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- This department/service has; a main reception, a waiting room/area, a consultation room, a treatment room and accessible toilet facilities for everyone.
- There are 2 consultation/treatment rooms in this department/service.
- A hearing assistance system is not available in the department/service.
- A mobile hoist is not available on the department/service.
- There are accessible toilet facilities within the department/service.
- There are not standard toilet facilities within this department/service.
- Standard toilet facilities are located along the hospital corridor.
Reception (Watergrove Memory Assessment Service)
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Reception
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- The reception point is located to the right of the entrance.
- The reception point is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the Watergrove Memory Assessment Service entrance.
- The reception area/desk is clearly visible from the entrance.
- There is step free access to the reception point.
- There is a clear unobstructed route to the reception point.
- There are windows, glazed screens or mirrors behind the reception point which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
- The reception counter is not placed in front of a background which is patterned.
- The lighting levels at the reception point are moderate to good.
- The height of the reception counter is high (110cm+).
- There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the counter.
- There is a low section of the counter (76cm or below) available.
- There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the low section of the counter.
- The counter is staffed.
- There is a bell to attract attention.
- The bell is at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- Signs and universally accepted symbols or pictograms, indicating lifts, stairs, WCs, circulation routes and other parts of the building are not provided in the reception area.
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Reception Waiting Area
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- There is a waiting area close to the reception point.
- Access to the waiting area is unobstructed.
- The type of flooring is carpet.
- There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to use the waiting area.
- There are seats with armrests on both sides.
- No tables are permanently fixed.
- 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 not a television.
- Vending machines are not available.
- A water dispenser is 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.
Consultation / Treatment Room (Consulting Room 1)
- There is / are 2 consultation / treatment room(s) available.
- The name / number of the room surveyed was; Consulting Room 1.
- There is level access to the consultation / treatment room.
- There is a/are door(s) into the consultation / treatment room.
- The door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The door(s) may be difficult to open.
- The width of the door opening is 83cm (2ft 9in).
- The type of flooring is carpet.
- There is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
- There is not a bed / couch.
- There is a chair.
- No chairs are permanently fixed.
- The chair(s) is not/are not height adjustable.
- All chairs have armrests available.
- No tables are permanently fixed.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- The room does not have background music playing.
- There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the room.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)
- There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
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Location and Access
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- This accessible toilet is located near the reception.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 10m from the Watergrove Memory Assessment Service 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 signage on or near the toilet door.
- The visual contrast between the external door and wall is good.
- The door opens inwards and outwards.
- The door is easy to open.
- The door is locked by a twist lock.
- The width of the accessible toilet opening is 84cm (2ft 9in).
- The visual contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
- The door has a horizontal grab rail.
- The visual contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is good.
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Toilet Features
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- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 205cm x 360cm (6ft 9in x 11ft 10in).
- The accessible toilet does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
- The lighting levels are good.
- There is a lateral transfer space.
- As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
- The lateral transfer space is 141cm.
- The transfer space is obstructed by a waste disposal bin.
- There is a flush on the transfer side.
- There is 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 good.
- 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 is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
- There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
- The visual contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
- The visual contrast between the walls and floor is fair.
- There is an emergency alarm.
- The emergency alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
- There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
- Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
- There is a/are sanitary and pedal bin disposal units.
- There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
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Additional Fixtures
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- There is not a mirror.
- There is a shelf within the accessible toilet.
- The shelf does not have the minimum dimensions of 12.5cm x 40cm.
- The shelf is at a height of 90cm.
- The shelf is not located where it is reachable.
- The toilet has a cistern.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 50cm (1ft 8in).
- The toilet seat visual contrast is poor.
- There is a toilet roll holder.
- The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The toilet roll holder is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 110cm (3ft 7in).
- The visual contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is good.
- There is a wash basin.
- The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
- The height of the wash basin is 73cm (2ft 5in).
- There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
- The visual contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
- 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 106cm.
- There is not a towel dispenser.
- There is not a hand dryer.
Related Access Guides
- To view other Detailed Access Guides that are related to this one please use the links below.
- Psychological Therapy Service link (new tab) - click here.
