Access Guide
Getting Help and Assistance (West Suffolk Hospital)
- To see the hospital map please click here (opens new tab).
- There is a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital.
- The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is located to the left as you enter the hospital via the main entrance.
- The telephone number for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is 01284 712 555.
- 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.
- Volunteers can be found at the information desk.
- Documents are available in an alternative format and can be provided to include: Braille on request, large print on request, different languages on request and audio on request.
- There is not an assistance dog toilet or toileting area on the hospital site.
- Water bowls for assistance dogs are not available.
- BSL interpreters can be provided on request.
- Language interpreters can be provided on request.
- A mobility scooter charging point is not available at the hospital.
- Mobility aids are available to help patients move around and include; wheelchairs, motorised wheelchairs, tri wheel walkers, walking frames, walking sticks, mobile hoists, hoist slings, adjustable beds and crutches.
- To obtain mobility aids please contact a member of staff.
- There is a Changing Places facility at this hospital which is located within the green zone - lifts No1 and No2 lift lobby.
- To view the Changing Places Accessibility Guide please click here.
Getting To The Hospital (West Suffolk Hospital)
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By Road
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- West Suffolk Hospital is located to the south of Bury St. Edmunds town centre.
It is within easy access of the A14 (westerly or easterly direction). - There are several car parks for patients and visitors available on site.
Please note that car parking at West Suffolk Hospital can be difficult at busy times of the day.
- West Suffolk Hospital is located to the south of Bury St. Edmunds town centre.
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By Bus
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- The main bus station is in St Andrew's Street North, a few minutes walk from the town centre.
Mulley's Bus Company runs the M11/M22 bus service from here to the hospital and return.
Currently, this runs at hourly intervals at 10 minutes past the hour arriving at the hospital at 27 minutes past.
Stephenson's Bus Company runs the Bury St Edmunds Town Breeze Service from here to the hospital and return.
Currently this runs at half hourly intervals, at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour arriving at the hospital at 25 and 55 minutes past. - There is an onsite bus stop.
- The onsite bus stop is located at the front of the hospital.
- The onsite bus stop has a shelter and benched seating available.
There is not enough space for a wheelchair user. - The route from the onsite bus stop to the main entrance has either a steep slope or stepped access.
The slope that leads to the main entrance is located at the end of the path to the right as you exit the bus shelter, then the main entrance is located in front as you reach the top of the slope.
The steps that lead to the main entrance are located to the left as you exit the bus shelter, then the main entrance is located in front as you reach the top of the steps.
- The main bus station is in St Andrew's Street North, a few minutes walk from the town centre.
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By Train
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- The railway station is on Station Hill (Tel: 01284 484950), approximately 1 mile from the town centre and 2 miles from the hospital.
There are at least five train services daily between Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich and Cambridge.
There is a bus service from the station which runs to the main bus station in St Andrew's Street North, with connecting services to the hospital.
There is also a taxi rank outside the station, and further taxi offices on Station Hill.
- The railway station is on Station Hill (Tel: 01284 484950), approximately 1 mile from the town centre and 2 miles from the hospital.
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Useful Links
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- Information on bus providers.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- Information on train providers.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- Bury St Edmunds train station.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
Hospital Parking (Main Entrance Blue Badge Bays)
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Parking
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- The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
- The car parking facilities are for Blue Badge holders only.
- The car park is located at the front of the hospital, in front of main entrance.
- 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 and signposted.
- 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 231cm x 523cm (7ft 7in x 17ft 2in).
- 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.
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Drop-off Point
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- There is not a designated drop-off point.
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Paying
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- There are not parking charges for the hospital car park.
- 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 dropped kerbs.
- The hospital entrance is clearly visible from the car park.
- The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 10m (10yd 2ft) from the main entrance.
Outside Access (Main Entrance)
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Entrance Details
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- This information is for the entrance located at the front of the hospital.
- 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.
- There are bollards outside this entrance.
- The minimum width between the bollards/wall is 194cm.
- 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 not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- There is a hand sanitiser.
- The height of the hand sanitiser is 123cm (4ft).
- 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.
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The width of the door opening is 143cm.
- 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.
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the door opening is 174cm.
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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 slight.
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Comments
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- There is also an automatic door on the right side of the canopy.
- The door is 143cm wide and has a slight slope in front.
Lift (Green Zone - Lifts No1 and No2)
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located within the green zone, to the left as you exit the main entrance lobby.
- Signs indicating the location of this lift are not clearly visible from the entrance.
- The lift is approximately 45m (49yd 8in) 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 not 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 visual contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is medium.
- The visual contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is high.
- The clear door width is 129cm (4ft 3in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 157cm x 241cm (5ft 2in x 7ft 11in).
- There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
- There is not 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 a hearing assistance system.
- The lift does not have Braille markings.
- The lift does have tactile markings.
- The lighting level in the lift is good.
Getting To (Time Out Restaurant)
- Time Out Restaurant is/are located on the first floor in area 26 in the Orange Zone.
- Access to Time Out Restaurant is via the main hospital entrance.
- When entering the hospital go straight ahead, turn left at the end of the corridor and take the lift to the first floor. Turn right as you exit the lift and continue straight, then turn left and continue ahead. At the end of the corridor bear left and the Time Out Restaurant is located on the right.
- There is step free access, via lift, to Time Out Restaurant.
- Time Out Restaurant is approximately 175m from the Green Zone Lifts 1 and 2.
- There is a/are manual, double door(s) which may be difficult to open between the lift and the department/service.
- Wayfinding signage is provided.
- Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
- There is flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- There is flooring in corridors which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
Other Floors (Green Zone - Lifts No1 and No2 Stairs)
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Stairs
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- Signs indicating the location of the stairs are not clearly visible from the entrance.
- There are manual, double doors which may be difficult to open to enter and exit the stairwell on the ground floor.
- 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 not 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 not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
- There is a landing.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor of the building are provided on landings.
- The lighting levels are good.
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Comments
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- The manual doors are to access the stairs from the lift lobby on the ground floor. There is open access to the stairs from the corridor.
Opening Times
- Monday 08:00 - 20:00.
- Tuesday 08:00 - 20:00.
- Wednesday 08:00 - 20:00.
- Thursday 08:00 - 20:00.
- Friday 08:00 - 20:00.
- Saturday 08:00 - 20:00.
- Sunday 08:00 - 20:00.
Outside Access (Restaurant Entrance)
- This information is for the entrance located on the first floor of the hospital.
- There is level access into the venue.
- Level access is via lift.
- The main door(s) open towards you (pull).
- The doors are double width.
- The door(s) is / are heavy.
- The door opening is 152cm (4ft 12in) wide.
Inside Access
- There is level access to the service.
- There is a hearing assistance system.
- The hearing system is available only on request.
- The system is a portable loop.
- Staff are trained to use the system.
- The type of flooring in walkways and corridors is carpet and non slip.
- Lighting levels are medium.
Eating and Drinking
- The following information is for the restaurant.
- Full table service is not available.
- Food or drinks are ordered from the service counter.
- Food or drinks can be brought to the table.
- There is not a lowered section at the counter.
- No chairs are permanently fixed.
- No chairs have armrests.
- The nearest table is 3m (3yd 10in) from the restaurant entrance.
- The distance between the floor and the lowest table is 70cm (2ft 4in).
- The distance between the floor and the highest table is 70cm (2ft 4in).
- There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
- Menus are hand held only.
- Menus are not available in Braille.
- Menus are not available in large print.
- Picture menus are not available.
- Menus are not clearly written.
- Menus are presented in contrasting colours.
- The type of food served here is hot and cold meals and snacks.
Toilet with Adaptations
- The nearest accessible toilet is located in the main hospital corridor.
Standard Toilet(s)
- The nearest toilets are located in the main hospital corridor.
