Access Guide
Getting To The Hospital
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By Road
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- The main hospital entrance to the Freeman Hospital is located off Freeman Road. The Freeman Hospital is at the north of Newcastle in High Heaton. It can be easily accessed by public transport or car. If you have a sat nav, postcode is NE7 7DN.
- The Blue Badge parking areas and the multi storey car park are located off Freeman Road.
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By Bus
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- The nearest bus stop to the Freeman Hospital main entrance is located on Freeman Road. There are two Bus services. Zone 27 routes 3,18,32,38,A. Zone 17 routes 3,6,7,8,18,32,38,340,16.
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By Train
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- The nearest National Rail station is Newcastle.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
Getting Help and Assistance
- There is not a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital.
- The email address for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is [email protected].
- There are volunteers available for help and assistance at the hospital.
- Water bowls for assistance dogs are available.
- Mobility aids are available to help patients move around and include; wheelchairs.
- There is a Changing Places facility at this hospital which is located at the front right of the first corridor on the right as you enter via the main entrance.
- To view the Changing Places Accessibility Guide please click here.
- Interpreting services can be provided by the Trust and confirmation of booking details can be provided by the PALS team.
- Additional hospital services link (new tab) - click here.
Hospital Parking (Car Park 1)
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Parking
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- 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 have a barrier control system.
- 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.
- 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 366cm x 591cm (12ft x 19ft 5in).
- 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 a designated drop-off point.
- The drop-off point is located at the front of the main entrance.
- There is a dropped kerb from the drop-off point.
- The dropped kerb does not have tactile paving.
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Paying
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- There are parking charges for the hospital car park.
- Payment signs are provided.
- Payment signs are clearly presented.
- Payment signs are located throughout the car park.
- Payment signs do not make it clear if parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders.
- Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
- Payment machines are located close to the Blue Badge parking bays.
- 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).
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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 with assistance.
- Assistance may be required because there is/are slopes/ramps.
- The hospital entrance is 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 169m (184yd 2ft) from the main entrance.
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Comments
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- In order to ensure vehicles are registered for free parking on the day of attendance, Blue Badge holders are required to provide their registration number to reception, by telephone to 0191 2231353 or via email to [email protected]. This applies for each visit to the hospital.
Getting To (The Echo Cardiology Unit)
- The Echo Cardiology Unit is/are located on level 2.
- Access to the Echo Cardiology Unit is via the Main Cardiothoracic entrance.
- After entering the Cardiothoracic entrance, continue past the reception and turn right.
Continue along the corridor past the toilets and turn left, follow this corridor and the unit is on the right. - There is step free access to the Echo Cardiology Unit.
- The Echo Cardiology Unit is approximately 200m from the Cardiothoracic entrance.
- Wayfinding signage is 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 (Cardiothoracic Entrance)
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Entrance Details
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- This information is for the entrance located at the side of the building.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
- There is ramped/sloped 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.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the door opening is 127cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm 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 127cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
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Ramp/Slope Details
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- The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
- The ramp/slope gradient is easy.
- The ramp/slope is permanent.
- There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
Opening Times
- Monday 08:30 - 17:00.
- Tuesday 08:30 - 17:00.
- Wednesday 08:30 - 17:00.
- Thursday 08:30 - 17:00.
- Friday 08:30 - 17:00.
- Saturday Closed.
- Sunday Closed.
Entrance
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Entrance Details
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- This information is for the entrance located at the front of the unit.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed with the name of the service/department.
- There is step free access at this entrance.
- The hand sanitiser is not in a suitable position for wheelchair users.
- The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
- The width of the door opening is 122cm.
Reception
- The reception is located on the left as you enter.
- The reception area/desk is approximately 2m (2yd 7in) from the unit entrance.
- The reception area/desk is clearly visible from the entrance.
- There is step free access to the reception area/desk.
- The lighting levels at the reception area/desk are medium.
- The height of the reception desk is medium height (77cm - 109cm).
- There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the desk.
- There is not a low section of the desk (76cm or below) available.
- The desk is staffed.
- There is a hearing assistance system.
- The type of system is a portable loop.
- The hearing assistance system is signed.
- Staff are not trained to use the system.
Inside Access
- There is level access once inside.
- There is a hearing assistance system.
- The type of system is a portable loop.
- Staff are trained to use the hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested by an AccessAble surveyor.
- The hearing assistance system was tested on 15/02/2022.
- The hearing assistance system was working at the time of testing.
- This venue does not play background music.
- Motorised scooters are allowed in public parts of the venue.
- Wayfinding signage is available.
- No Braille signage is available.
- No tactile signage is available.
- No pictorial signage is available.
- Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
- The type of flooring in walkways and corridors is 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.
Waiting Room / Area
- There is a waiting room / area.
- The waiting room / area is approximately 5m from the unit entrance.
- There is level access into the waiting room / area.
- There is a/are door(s) into the waiting room / area.
- The door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
- The door(s) is/are single width with a locked extension leaf.
- The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
- The width of the door opening is 88cm (2ft 11in).
- The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
- There is a space for a wheelchair user to wait within the seating area.
- All chairs are permanently fixed.
- Chairs with armrests are not available.
- All tables are permanently fixed.
- The surface height of the lowest table is 52cm.
- The tables do not 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.
Consultation / Treatment Room (Echo Room 5)
- There is / are 6 consultation / treatment room(s) available.
- The name / number of the room surveyed was; Room 5.
- 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 76cm (2ft 6in).
- The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
- There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
- There is a bed / couch.
- The bed / couch is adjustable.
- A hoist can be brought in from another department.
- There is sufficient space next to the bed/couch for a mobile hoist to operate.
- There is a chair.
- No chairs are permanently fixed.
- The chair(s) is not/are not height adjustable.
- There are no chairs with armrests available.
- Some 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 good.
Toilet with Adaptations
- Accessible toilet facilities are not available.
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Comments
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- Accesible toilets are located in the corridor between the main reception and the unit.
Standard Toilet(s)
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Availability and Location of Standard Toilets
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- Standard toilet facilities are available.
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Access to Standard Shared Toilet(s)
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- The shared toilets that were surveyed are located in the corridor to the right as you enter the unit.
- The shared toilet(s) is/are approximately 8m (8yd 2ft) from the unit entrance.
- Inside the venue, there is level access to the shared toilet(s).
- An ambulant toilet with wall mounted grab rails is not available.
- Lighting levels in the shared toilets are moderate to good.
Related Access Guides
- To view other Detailed Access Guides that are related to this one please use the links below.
- Freeman Hospital Main Entrance link (new tab) - click here.