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Conference Suite

Ards Community Hospital, Church Street, Newtownards , County Down, BT23 4AS

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Access Guide

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Getting To (Conference Suite)

  • Comments View
    • There is an additional entrance to the Conference Suite at the rear of Lough House, however this entrance is not generally used and requires a staff card reader to enter.

Hospital Parking (Lough House Car Park)

  • Parking View
    • The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
    • The car park is located at the rear of the hospital grounds.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park does have a barrier control system.
    • There is a push button control at the barrier.
    • The barrier controls/touchscreen can be reached from the car.
    • 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 and signposted.
    • There is/are 5 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 454cm (7ft 7in x 14ft 11in).
    • 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 not a designated 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 entrance to the car park.
    • Payment signs do make it clear if parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders.
    • Parking is not free for Blue Badge holders.
    • Payment machines are located at the side of the car park.
    • 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).
    • To see the hospital parking charges please click here (opens new tab).
  • 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 55m (60yd 5in) from the Lough House entrance.

Outside Access (Lough House Entrance)

  • Entrance Details View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the Lough House.
    • 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.
    • There are bollards outside this entrance.
    • The minimum width between the bollards/wall is 66cm.
    • The bollard(s) has/have a high visual contrast to prevent them being hazardous to visually impaired people.
    • 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 a bell/buzzer.
    • The height of the bell/buzzer is 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is a hand sanitiser.
    • The height of the hand sanitiser is 118cm (3ft 10in).
    • There is a door release button when exiting.
    • The height of the door release button is 99cm (3ft 3in).
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
    • The width of the door opening is 75cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 1.5cm or below.

Entrance (Lough House Entrance Lobby)

  • Entrance Details View
    • This information is for the entrance located ahead from the Lough House entrance to the left rear of the lobby.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed with the name of the service/department.
    • There is step free access at this entrance.
    • 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) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 87cm.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • 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 79cm.

Outside Access (Conference Suite)

  • Entrance Details View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the rear of Lough House.
    • The entrance area/door is not 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 not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is a hand sanitiser.
    • The height of the hand sanitiser is 120cm (3ft 11in).
    • There is a door release button when exiting.
    • The height of the door release button is 105cm (3ft 5in).
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The automatic door(s) is/are push pad activated.
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 169cm.
  • Comments View
    • This entrance is not generally used and requires a staff card reader to enter.

Department / Service (Conference Suite)

  • Department / Service Access View
    • The Conference Suite is located at the rear of Lough House.
    • There is level access throughout the department/service.
    • There is no clear signage on the department/service.
    • The type of flooring is carpet.
    • There is some flooring in the department/service which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • The department/service does not play background music.
    • The lighting levels are varied.
  • Department / Service Facilities View
    • This department/service has; a waiting room/area and sub waiting areas.
    • A hearing assistance system is not available in the department/service.
    • There are not accessible toilet facilities within the department/service.
    • Accessible toilet facilities are located in the foyer to Lough House.
    • There are not standard toilet facilities within this department/service.
    • Standard toilet facilities are located in the foyer to Lough House.

Conference / Meeting Facilities (Conference Suite)

  • Conference/meeting facilities are available.
  • The conference/meeting facilities are located at the rear of Lough House.
  • There is step-free access to the conference/meeting facilities.
  • The door opening width(s) is/are 75cm+ for the room(s).
  • There is not a hearing assistance system for the room(s).
  • There is a/are chair(s) with armrests on both sides within the room(s).
  • There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre within the room(s).
  • The lighting levels in the room(s) are good.

Waiting Room / Area (Seating Area - Conference Suite entrance)

  • There is a waiting room / area.
  • The waiting room / area is approximately 3m from the Conference Suite 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 54cm.
  • The surface height of the highest table is 75cm.
  • The tables do contrast visually with the floor.
  • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • 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.

Waiting Room / Area (Seating Area Near Meeting Rooms 2 and 3)

  • There is a waiting room / area.
  • The waiting room / area is approximately 20m from the Conference Suite 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.
  • All chairs have armrests.
  • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • 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.

Room / Area (Meeting Room 1)

  • There is / are 3 room(s) / area(s) available.
  • The name / number of the room / area surveyed was; Meeting Room 1.
  • The room / area is approximately 5m from the Conference Suite entrance.
  • There is 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) may be difficult to open.
  • The width of the door opening is 87cm (2ft 10in).
  • The type of flooring is carpet.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • There is a chair.
  • No chairs are permanently fixed.
  • Some chairs are height adjustable.
  • There are some chairs with armrests available.
  • Some 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.

Room / Area (Meeting Room 2)

  • There is / are 3 room(s) / area(s) available.
  • The name / number of the room / area surveyed was; Meeting Room 2.
  • The room / area is approximately 17m from the Conference Suite entrance.
  • There is 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) may be difficult to open.
  • The width of the door opening is 86cm (2ft 10in).
  • The type of flooring is carpet.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • There is a chair.
  • Some chairs are permanently fixed.
  • The chair(s) is not/are not height adjustable.
  • There are some chairs with armrests available.
  • Some 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.

Room / Area (Meeting Room 3)

  • There is / are 3 room(s) / area(s) available.
  • The name / number of the room / area surveyed was; Meeting Room 3.
  • The room / area is approximately 25m from the Conference Suite entrance.
  • There is 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) may be difficult to open.
  • The width of the door opening is 87cm (2ft 10in).
  • The type of flooring is carpet.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • There is a chair.
  • No chairs are permanently fixed.
  • Some chairs are height adjustable.
  • There are some chairs with armrests available.
  • Some 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.