Access Guide
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
- The venue has its own car park, with Blue Badge parking available.
- There is a drop-off point, on-street standard parking and a taxi rank.
- The nearest train station is Reading Railway Station.
- The nearest bus station is Reading Bus Station.
- For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Google Maps (opens new tab).
- View information on getting here (opens new tab) .
-
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.
Hospital Parking (ENT Clinic / Medical Photography)
-
Parking
View
- The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
- The car park is located off West Drive on the hospital site.
- 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 360cm x 570cm (11ft 10in x 18ft 8in).
- 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.
-
Drop-off Point
View
- There is a designated drop-off point.
- The drop-off point is located in front of ENT building.
- There is not a dropped kerb from the drop-off point.
-
Paying
View
- There are parking charges for the hospital 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.
- Payment machines are located at the side of the car park.
- There is not a payment machine at a convenient height for wheelchair users.
- There is not a level turning space (minimum 185cm x 210cm) in front of the payment machine(s).
-
Access to the Hospital
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 slopes/ramps.
- The hospital entrance is clearly visible from the car park.
- The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 25m (27yd 1ft) from the Medical Photography entrance.
Opening Times (Medical Photography)
- Access is by appointment only.
Outside Access (Medical Photography)
-
Entrance Details
View
- This information is for the entrance located between the rear entrance of the North Block and West Drive.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
- There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
- There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
- The entrance door(s) does not/do not 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 an intercom.
- The height of the intercom is 144cm .
- There is a hand sanitiser.
- The height of the hand sanitiser is 136cm (4ft 6in).
- There is not a door release button when exiting.
- The main 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 78cm.
- 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) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The door(s) is/are easy to open.
- The width of the door opening is 77cm.
-
Ramp/Slope Details
View
- The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
- The ramp/slope gradient is steep.
- The ramp/slope is permanent.
- There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the ramp.
- The handrail(s) is/are on both sides going up the ramp.
- The width of the ramp is 108cm.
-
Comments
View
- The height of the bell at second door is 151cm as shown in photograph 4.
- There is a slight slope with no handrails in front of second door as shown in photograph 8.
Waiting Room / Area (Medical Photography)
- There is a waiting room / area.
- The waiting room / area is approximately 1m from the Medical Photography entrance.
- There is level access into the waiting room / area.
- There is not a/are not door(s) into the waiting room / area.
- The type of flooring is carpet.
- 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 41cm.
- The surface height of the highest table is 41cm.
- 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 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 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 good.
Inside Access
- There is not level access once inside.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- This venue does not play background music.
- Motorised scooters are allowed in public parts of the venue.
- Wayfinding signage is not available.
- Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
- The type of flooring in walkways and corridors is carpet and vinyl/laminate.
- There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- The lighting levels are good.
Room / Area (Photography Studio)
- There is / are 1 room(s) / area(s) available.
- The name / number of the room / area surveyed was; Photography Studio.
- The room / area is approximately 18m from the Medical Photography entrance.
- There is not level access to the room / area.
- There is a/are door(s) into the room / area.
- The door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The door(s) is/are easy to open.
- The width of the door opening is 69cm (2ft 3in).
- The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
- There is not a bed / couch.
- There is a chair.
- No chairs are permanently fixed.
- The chair(s) is/are height adjustable.
- There are no chairs with armrests available.
- No tables are permanently fixed.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- The room / area does not have background music playing.
- There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the room / area.
- Lighting levels are good.
Level Change (Photography Studio)
- There is a ramp/slope to access this area/service.
- The ramp/slope is located in front of the Photography Studio.
- The ramp/slope is steep.
- The ramp/slope is permanent.
- There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
- There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the ramp.
Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)
- There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
-
Location and Access
View
- This accessible toilet is located at the rear of the Medical Photography department.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 12m from the Medical Photography 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 contrast between the external door and wall is low.
- The door opens outwards.
- The door may be difficult to open.
- The door is locked by a twist lock.
- The width of the accessible toilet opening is 85cm (2ft 9in).
- The contrast between the internal door and wall is low.
- The door has a horizontal grab rail.
- The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is low.
-
Toilet Features
View
- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 220cm x 200cm (7ft 3in x 6ft 7in).
- The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
- The height of the light switch/pull cord is 135cm 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 left.
- The lateral transfer space is 144cm.
- The transfer space is obstructed by a waste disposal bin.
- There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
- There is not a spatula type lever flush.
- There is a push button flush.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The visual contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is low.
- 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 contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is low.
- The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
- 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 general waste (with no lid) and pedal bin disposal units.
- There is a/are coat hook(s).
- The height of the coat hook is 170cm 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.
- The toilet has a cistern.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 43cm (1ft 5in).
- The toilet seat colour contrast is low.
- 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 85cm (2ft 9in).
- The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is low.
- 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 left hand side of the wash basin.
- The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is low.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
- The soap dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 109cm.
- There is a towel dispenser.
- The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The height of the towel dispenser is 112cm (3ft 8in).
- The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is low.
- There is not a hand dryer.
-
Comments
View
- A keycode is required to access the accessible toilet.
Standard Toilet(s) (Medical Photography)
- Standard toilet facilities are not available.
-
Comments
View
- The accessible toilet can also be used as the standard toilet.
Related Access Guides
- To view other Detailed Access Guides that are related to this one please use the links below.
- North Block - Building Guide link (new tab) - click here.
- Centre Block - Building Guide link (new tab) - click here.
