Access Guide
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).
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.
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.
Getting To (Ward G3 - Cardiac)
- Ward G3 - Cardiac is/are located on the ground floor in area 9 of Orange Zone.
- Access to Ward G3 - Cardiac is via the main hospital entrance.
- When entering the hospital go straight ahead and turn right at the end of the corridor. Continue ahead and after the staircase turn right and then immediately left. This part of the route is a Memory Walk named Forget-Me-Not Walk, a reminiscent corridor designed to provide a calm and comforting space for patients with dementia. Follow the memory walk and Ward G3 - Cardiac is located on the left of the corridor.
- There is step free access to Ward G3 - Cardiac.
- Ward G3 - Cardiac is approximately 126m from the main hospital entrance.
- There is a/are manual, heavy, double door(s) between the main hospital entrance and the department/service.
- Wayfinding signage is provided.
- Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
- There is flooring in corridors with a very shiny finish which could cause issues with glare or be perceived as slippery.
- There is flooring in corridors with large, repeating patterns that incorporate bold contrasting colours or simulate steps.
Outside Access (Ward G3 Cardiac Entrance)
- This information is for the entrance located on the ground floor of the hospital.
- There is level access into the venue.
- The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is / are double.
- The door(s) is / are heavy.
- The width of the door opening is 150cm (4ft 11in).
Reception
- The desk is 2m (6ft 7in) from the ward entrance .
- There is level access to reception from the entrance.
- The reception desk is high height.
- The desk has a lowered section.
- The desk is generally staffed.
- Lighting levels are medium.
- There is not a touch screen.
- There is not a prescription box.
- There is not a bell to attract attention.
- There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the desk.
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.
- This venue does not play background music.
- The type of flooring in walkways and corridors is non slip.
- Lighting levels are medium.
Ward
- There is level access to the ward.
- The ward is unisex.
- There are 5 bays available.
- There are 3 side rooms available.
- The area / room / bay surveyed was Bay 4.
- The area / room / bay is 16m (17yd) from the ward entrance .
- There are not doors to the bay / side room.
- The type of flooring is vinyl.
- There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre between beds.
- All beds are adjustable.
- All beds have bedside storage.
- Bedside services available are television, telephone, radio and internet.
- Some of these services are chargeable.
- A hoist is available.
- The hoist is manual.
- A sling is available.
- The sling is attached by hook and loop.
- There is an accessible toilet for visitors to use on the ward.
- There is a standard toilet for visitors to use on the ward.
- There is a bathroom on the ward.
- Lighting levels are medium.
- A flashing alarm is not available.
- A vibrating alarm is not available.
Accessible Bathroom
- Accessible bathroom facilities are available.
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Location and access
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- The bathroom is unisex.
- The bathroom is not for the sole use of disabled people.
- There is no additional signage on or near the accessible bathroom door.
- The accessible bathroom is 31m (33yd 2ft) from the ward entrance.
- There is level access to the accessible bathroom.
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Features and dimensions
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- A key is not required for the accessible bathroom.
- The door opens inwards.
- The door is locked by a twist lock.
- The width of the door is 86cm (2ft 10in).
- The door weight is light.
- The dimensions of the bathroom are 160cm x 150cm (5ft 3in x 4ft 11in).
- The bathroom has a non-slip floor.
- The bathroom does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm in front of the toilet seat.
- There is not a functional emergency alarm available.
- It is out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from the floor).
- Disposal facilities are available.
- There is a coat hook.
- The coat hook is not within 120cm (3ft 11in) from floor level.
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Position of fixtures
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- Wall mounted grab rails are available for the toilet.
- As you face the toilet the wall mounted grab rails are on both sides.
- 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).
- There is a wash basin.
- The wash basin cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The wash basin height is 74cm (2ft 5in).
- The tap type is sensor.
- There is a mixer tap for the wash basin.
- There are mirrors in the accessible bathroom.
- Mirrors are not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
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Bath details
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- There is not a bath.
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Wheel in shower details
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- There is a wheel in shower.
- The shower head height is adjustable.
- The shower control type is lever.
- There is a flip-down/tip-up seat for the shower.
- The flip-down or fixed seat height is 48cm (1ft 7in).
- There are handrails available for the shower.
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Colour contrast and lighting
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- The contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
- The contrast between the grab rails and wall is good.
- The contrast between the drop down rails and wall is good.
- The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
- The lighting levels are medium.
Standard Toilet(s)
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Availability and Location of Standard Toilets
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- Standard toilets are available.
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Access to Standard Female Toilet(s)
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- The female toilets are located to the right as you face reception.
- The female toilets are 9m (9yd 2ft) from the ward entrance.
- Inside the venue, there is level access to the female toilet.
- Lighting levels are medium.
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Access to Standard Male Toilet(s)
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- The male toilets are located to the right as you face reception.
- The male toilets are 10m (10yd 2ft) from the ward entrance.
- Inside the venue, there is level access to the male toilet.
- Lighting levels are medium.
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Comments
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- The gender use of these toilets are interchangeable.
- The photograph shows the standard female toilet.
Related Access Guides
- To view other Detailed Access Guides that are related to this one please use the links below.
- Main Hospital Entrance link (new tab) - click here.
