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Prayer Room

West Berkshire Community Hospital, Benham Hill, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 3AS

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Access Guide

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Getting To The Hospital

  • By Road View
    • The hospital is located on the east side of Newbury.
      There are two entrances by road to the Hospital.
      The South Entrance (Main Entrance) is located directly off the A4 London Road and The North Entrance is located of Turnpike Road.
    • There is a pay and display car park on site, including Blue Badge Bays and a drop off point at the main entrance.
  • By Bus View
    • There is a bus stop located near the Main Entrance (South). This bus stop is served by buses 41, 1 Jetback, 1A, B, C and D.
    • There is an onsite bus stop.
    • The onsite bus stop is located directly outside the main entrance.
    • The onsite bus stop is sheltered and seating without armrests is available.
      There is space for a wheelchair user.
    • The route from the onsite bus stop involves crossing a road with tactile paving on either side.
      The distance to the main entrance is approximately 30 metres.
  • By Train View
    • Newbury Racecourse train station is located approximately 1.1 miles (a 23 minute walk) away from the hospital.
  • Useful Links View

Getting Help and Assistance

  • To see the hospital map please click here (opens new tab).
  • There is not a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital.
  • There are not volunteers available for help and assistance at the hospital.
  • Documents are available in an alternative format and can be provided to include: Braille on request, large print on request, Makaton on request and different languages on request.
  • There is not an assistance dog toilet or toileting area on the hospital site.
  • Water bowls for assistance dogs are available.
  • BSL interpreters can be provided on request.
  • Language interpreters can be provided on request.
  • A mobility scooter charging point is available at the hospital.
  • Mobility aids are available to help patients move around and include; wheelchairs.
  • To obtain mobility aids please contact a member of staff.
  • Language interpreters are also available on the telephone on 0800 090 3647.
    Mobility scooter charging sockets are available when requested. There is no designated charging area.

Hospital Parking (West Berkshire Community Hospital)

  • Parking View
    • The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
    • The car park is located in front 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 10+ designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the hospital car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 230cm x 480cm (7ft 7in x 15ft 9in).
    • There is not a 120cm hatched zone around the Blue Badge parking bay(s).
    • The dimensions of other designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) vary in size.
    • 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 the main entrance.
    • There is a dropped kerb from the drop-off point.
    • The dropped kerb does not have tactile paving.
  • 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 and throughout 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 inside the hospital building.
    • There is a payment machine at a convenient height for wheelchair users.
    • There is 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 dropped kerbs.
    • The hospital entrance is not clearly visible from the car park.
    • The route from the car park to the hospital entrance is clearly signposted.
    • The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 34m (37yd 7in) from the main entrance.
  • Comments View
    • Blue Badge holders should enter their registration on the touch screen at the main reception as shown in photographs 13 and 14.
    • Non Blue Badge holders should enter their registration on arrival and payment is on leaving the hospital, using the machines opposite the main reception desk as shown in photographs 15 and 16.
    • Payment can also be made via the 'Parkonomy' app Quoting location 8041.
    • Parking charges apply 07:00 - 18:00 Monday - Friday only.

Getting To (Prayer Room)

  • The Prayer Room is/are located on the first floor.
  • Access to the Prayer Room is via the main entrance.
  • Enter the hospital via the main entrance and bear left towards the lifts.
    Take the lift up to the first floor.
    On exiting the lift, follow the corridor ahead and the entrance to the Prayer Room is located on your left hand side.
  • There is step free access, via lift, to the Prayer Room.
  • The Prayer Room is approximately 10m from the lifts.
  • There are not 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.

Outside Access (West Berkshire Community Hospital Main Entrance)

  • Entrance Details View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the hospital.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • There is step free access at this entrance.
    • There is 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 not an intercom.
    • There is not a hand sanitiser.
    • There is not a door release button when exiting.
    • Standard manual wheelchairs are available for people to borrow at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 149cm.
    • 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 (towards you).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 149cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 1.5cm or below.

Other Floors

  • Stairs View
    • Signs indicating the location of the stairs are not clearly visible from the entrance.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G and 1.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • There is a landing.
    • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor of the building are not provided on landings.
    • The lighting levels are good.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to the left from the main entrance.
  • Signs indicating the location of this lift are not clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 6m (6yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G and 1.
  • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are provided on lift lobby landings.
  • There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
  • Lift doors do contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
  • The external controls for the lift are within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is poor.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is good.
  • The clear door width is 130cm.
  • The dimensions of the lift are 178cm x 268cm.
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • There is not a list of floor services available within the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The internal controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is moderate to good.

Opening Times (Prayer Room)

  • The venue is open 24hrs.

Place of Worship / Prayer Room

  • The place of worship/room is located on the first floor.
  • There is step-free 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 80cm.
  • The type of flooring in the place of worship/room is carpet.
  • There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre within the place of worship/room.
  • There are chairs with armrests on both sides.
  • There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to use the seating area.
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
  • No tables are permanently fixed.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system for the room(s).
  • Background music is not played in the room.
  • There is not a speaker system in the room.
  • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the room.
  • The lighting levels in the room are good.

Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities

  • Accessible toilet facilities are located to the right from the main hospital entrance, along the main corridor.

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