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Chapel

Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, Reading, RG1 5AN

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Access Guide

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Overview (Royal Berkshire Hospital)

  • About View
    • This is a large general hospital foundation trust and the main provider of acute and specialist care services for Berkshire West.
    • Facilities available in the venue include: Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), a Pharmacy, a buggy transportation service ran by volunteers to assist those with mobility issues, volunteer help desks for wayfinding, a variety of cafes and restaurants on Level 1 and Level 2 of the building, a convenience store and M&S Food.
    • View information on opening times
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free level access at the most accessible entrance.
    • The main and most accessible entrance is via Level 2 of the Craven Road Multi-Storey car park entrance, which enters the hospital at the Level 2 Main Entrance foyer.
      There are alternative entrances which are step-free level via lift throughout Levels 0, 1 and 3 of the multi-storey car park and step-free via ramped and lift access at the Level 1 Main Entrance - Craven Road.
      Each Block of the hospital has its own entrance located around the hospital site and its surrounding roads with varying levels of access.
    • 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: a slight ramp in the main entrance foyer corridor into the Centre Block on Level 2, a slight ramp along the Centre Block corridor on Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 leading towards the Eye Block, a slight ramp between the Eye Block and Battle Block corridor on Level 2, a slight ramp leading from the Maternity Block into the South Block on Level 2, slight ramps in the corridor between the Battle Block and North Block on Level 1, a steep ramp leading from the North Block to the Berkshire Cancer Centre on Level 1 and slight ramps on either side of the North Block corridor on Level 2.
    • The following areas have stepped access: the Centre Block corridor on Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 leading towards the Eye Block.
    • Access throughout may include manual doors, doors permanently held open, automatic doors and narrow walkways.
    • All levels of the building can be accessed via a standard lift and stairs.
    • There are also a number of gender neutral and designated stoma-friendly toilets located around the hospital building.
      A changing place is available at the Level 1 Main Entrance.
  • 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 and walking aids.
    • There is a designated safe space which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
    • The designated safe space is located in the Sanctuary multi-faith room.
    • British Sign Language interpreters can be provided on request.
    • Documents are available in the following formats: Braille (on request), large print (on request), different languages (on request) and audio (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, a pay phone, Wi-Fi and TV pre-pay machines for patients.
    • Staff receive the following training: mandatory disability awareness training.

Parking (North Block - London Road)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located in front of North Block, off London Road.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 10 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 247cm (width) x 469cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides and rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 130cm.
    • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bays vary in size.
    • The nearest designated bay is 6m from Level 1 North Block - Step-Free Access via Berkshire Cancer Centre entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has slight ramps or slopes and uneven surfaces.
    • There is a dropped kerb without 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 free for Blue Badge holders.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are available.
    • Payment machines are located at the front of the Level 1 North Block Main Entrance.
    • There is not a payment machine with controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • There is a level manoeuvring space for a wheelchair user in front of the payment machine (185cm x 210cm).
    • View information on parking policies/charges (opens new tab).
    • Blue Badge Holders can verify their car registration plate at the Outpatients, Radiotherapy or West Ward to receive free parking.
      Alternatively they can register their Blue Badge at the parking desk in the main entrance foyer on Level 2.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Getting To (Chapel)

  • The Chapel is/are located on level 1 of the North Block.
  • Access to the Chapel is via the Level 1 North Block - Step-Free Access via Berkshire Cancer Centre.
  • Enter via the Level 1 North Block - Step-Free Access via Berkshire Cancer Centre entrance, turn left and proceed through the reception waiting area. Take the next left through the double doors and follow the corridor until you reach the set of double doors into the North Block. Turn left and continue up a slight slope through the double doors. Turn right up a steep long slope with a handrail on your left hand side. Continue along the corridor past the set of double doors and the Chapel stairs/lift are located the right.
  • There is ramped/sloped and lift access to the Chapel.
  • The Chapel is approximately 55m from the Level 1 North Block - Step-Free Access via Berkshire Cancer Centre.
  • There is a/are manual, double door(s) which may be difficult to open between the Berkshire Cancer Centre Main Entrance - Green Entrance and the department/service.
  • There are resting areas along the route.
  • Wayfinding signage is not 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.

Level Change (Chapel Entrance)

  • There is a/are step(s) to access this area/service.
  • The step(s) is/are located either side of the entrance.
  • There is/are 8 step(s) to the area/service.
  • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
  • The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
  • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides.
  • The lighting levels at the step(s) are good.
  • There is a lift to access this area/service.
  • The lift does bypass the step(s).

Entrance (Level 1 North Block - Step-Free Access via Berkshire Cancer Centre)

  • This entrance is located to the right of the Level 1 North Block main entrance, off London Road.
  • 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 ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide with handrails on both sides.
  • The height of the hand sanitiser is 119cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 106cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors .
  • The second set of doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 152cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 93cm.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.
  • This entrance gives step-free access to Level 1 of the North Block and the Berkshire Cancer Centre. The ramp is located between the first set of doors and the second set of doors.

Lift (Chapel Entrance)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to the right of the Chapel entrance.
  • Signs indicating the location of this lift are not clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the North Block main entrance.
  • The lift is a chair stair lift.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • 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 high.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is high.
  • The lighting level in the lift is good.

Place of Worship / Prayer Room (Chapel)

  • The place of worship/room is located on level 1 of the North Block.
  • There is stepped access to the place of worship/room.
  • The place of worship/room is clearly signed.
  • The door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
  • The door(s) for the room is/are not push pad activated.
  • The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
  • The door(s) has a closer and maybe difficult for some to open.
  • The width of the door opening is 62cm.
  • The type of flooring in the place of worship/room is carpet, tiles and wood.
  • There is bench seating only.
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system for the room(s).
  • Background music is not played in the room.
  • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the room.
  • The lighting levels in the room are adjustable.

Level Change (Chapel)

  • There is a/are step(s) to access this area/service.
  • The step(s) is/are located at the rear of the Chapel.
  • There is/are 2 step(s) to the area/service.
  • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
  • The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
  • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • The lighting levels at the step(s) are adjustable.

Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities (Royal Berkshire Hospital)

  • Changing Places facilities are located on Level 1 of the Centre Block. Please click here for more information.
  • Accessible toilet facilities are located on Level 2 of the Centre Block, Level 3 of the Eye Block, Level 1 of the North block, level 1 of the Battle Block and Levels 1,2 and 3 of the South Block. There are stoma friendly toilets located on level 2 of the South Block, level 1 of the Battle Block, level 1 of the North Block, and on the level 2 concourse of the Centre Block.
  • Female and male standard toilet facilities are located on Level 2 of the Centre Block, on Level 2 and 5 of the Maternity Block, on Level 1 of the Berkshire Cancer Centre and on Levels 1,2, and 3 of the South Block.
  • Shared standard toilet facilities are located on Level 2 of the Centre Block along the Concourse, on Level 2 of the Eye Block, on Level 4 of the Maternity block and on Level 1 of Battle Block.

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