Skip to main content
The new name for DisabledGo

Search for accessible places to go

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Discharge Lounge

Royal Victoria Hospital, 274 Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA

View Accessibility Symbols

Accessibility Symbols

For more information about what these symbols mean, view our Accessibility Symbols Guide.

Close this popup window.

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Getting To The Hospital

  • By Road View
    • Turn off the M1/A12 and follow the signs for the Royal Victoria Hospital.
      After leaving the large roundabout, turn right and continue along the road for approximately 1 mile.
      The main hospital car park will then be observed on the left.
  • By Bus View
    • The 646a Metro bus service runs from Belfast Grand Central Station to the hospital Monday - Friday.
    • The G1 Glider service runs from Belfast City Centre to the Falls Road.
    • If alighting at the Glider bus stop you may have to walk down Grosvenor Road to get into the hospital via the main entrance, if the Falls Road entrance is locked.
    • There is an onsite bus stop.
    • The nearest bus stop is located along the road from the main hospital entrance.
    • The bus stop has a sheltered waiting area with backless bench seating and sufficient space for a wheelchair user to wait.
    • The onsite bus stop is approximately 140 metres from the main hospital entrance.
      The route from the bus stop is level. Some of the route is sheltered.
      There are some access roads to cross all with dropped kerbs and tactile paving.
  • By Train View
    • The nearest railway station is Belfast Grand Central Station, located approximately 0.6 miles away on Grosvenor Road.
  • Useful Links View

Getting Help and Assistance

  • To see the hospital map please click here (opens new tab).
  • There is a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital.
  • The telephone number for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is 028 96 157 777 / 028 90 240 503.
  • There are volunteers available for help and assistance at the hospital.
  • Volunteers can be found in the main foyer of the hospital, adjacent to the main reception area.
  • Documents are available in an alternative format and can be provided to include: Braille on request, large print on request, different languages on request, voice recognition CD 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 available on request.
  • BSL interpreters can be provided on request.
  • Language interpreters can be provided on request.
  • Language interpreters can be provided in the following languages; Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese - Cantonese, Chinese - Hakka, Chinese - Mandarin, Czech, Estonian, Farsi, French, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Kurdish Kurmanji, Kurdish Sorani, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malayalam, Moldovan, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tetum, Thai, Tigrinya, Turkish, Urdu.
  • 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 and mobility scooter.
  • To obtain mobility aids please contact Shopmobility on 028 9080 8090.

Hospital Parking (Main Entrance - Blue Badge Parking and Drop Off Point)

  • Parking View
    • The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
    • The car parking facilities are for Blue Badge holders only.
    • The car park is located directly opposite the main entrance of the new building.
    • 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 car park surface is tarmac.
    • There is a/are Blue Badge parking bay(s) available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) markings are faded.
    • There is/are 4 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the hospital car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 270cm x 720cm (8ft 10in x 23ft 7in).
    • There is not 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 a designated drop-off point.
    • The drop-off point is located directly in front of the new building hospital entrance.
    • There is not a dropped kerb from the drop-off point.
  • Paying View
    • There are not parking charges for the hospital car park.
  • Access to the Hospital View
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user unaided.
    • The hospital entrance is clearly visible from the car park.
    • The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 11m (12yd 1in) from the new building main accessible entrance.

Hospital Parking (Multi Storey Car Park)

  • Parking View
    • The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
    • The car park is located across the road from the main hospital entrance.
    • The car park type is multi storey.
    • 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.
    • 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 240cm x 469cm (7ft 10in x 15ft 5in).
    • There is not 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 and at the payment machines in 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 throughout the car park.
    • There is not a payment machine at a convenient height for wheelchair users.
  • 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 slopes/ramps.
    • The hospital entrance is clearly visible from the car park.
    • The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 54m (59yd 2in) from the hospital underpass entrance.
  • Comments View
    • The car park is part multi storey and part open-air.
    • The height of the pay station controls range from 64cm to 170cm.
    • The best way of accessing the hospital from the car park is via an underpass that goes under the road and allows direct access to the hospital via stairs or lift.
    • Parking charges for visitors are as follows:
    • 0-4hrs - £1.60
    • 4-6hrs - £2.50
    • 6-24hrs - £5.00.

Getting To (Discharge Lounge)

  • The Discharge Lounge is/are located inside the Programmed Treatment Unit, in the Urgent Care Building.
  • Access to the Discharge Lounge is via the Programmed Treatment Unit entrance.
  • While facing the main hospital entrance from the outside, turn right, passing the main hospital entrance on your left and follow round the outside of the building.
    When you reach the end of the building turn left and the Urgent Care building will be directly ahead.
    The entrance to the Programmed Treatment Unit is on the front left of the building.
    Proceed through the Programmed Treatment Unit entrance.
    The discharge Lounge is on the left, a short way along the corridor.
  • There is step free access to the Discharge Lounge.
  • The Discharge Lounge is approximately 10m from the Programmed Treatment Unit entrance.
  • There are resting areas along the route.
  • 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 (Programmed Treatment Unit)

  • Entrance Details View
    • This information is for the entrance located to the left of the Urgent Care Centre.
    • 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 140cm.
    • The bollard(s) has/have a high visual contrast to prevent them being hazardous to visually impaired people.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do 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 147cm (4ft 10in).
    • There is a hand sanitiser.
    • The height of the hand sanitiser is 115cm (3ft 9in).
    • There is a door release button when exiting.
    • The height of the door release button is 140cm (4ft 7in).
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 110cm.
    • 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 automatic door(s) is/are push pad activated.
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 106cm.

Opening Times (Discharge Lounge)

  • Monday 09:00 - 17:00.
  • Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00.
  • Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00.
  • Thursday 09:00 - 17:00.
  • Friday 09:00 - 17:00.
  • Saturday Closed.
  • Sunday Closed.

Room / Area (Discharge Lounge)

  • There is / are 1 room(s) / area(s) available.
  • The name / number of the room / area surveyed was; Discharge Lounge.
  • The room / area is approximately 10m from the Programmed Treatment Unit 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 double width but one door is locked.
  • The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
  • The width of the door opening is 78cm (2ft 7in).
  • 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 is available.
  • 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 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.
  • Comments View
    • There is a Nurses' Station in this room.
    • The height of the desk is 78cm.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system at the desk.
  • Comments View
    • There is a Nurses' Station in this room.
    • The height of the desk is 78cm.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system at the desk.

Standard Toilet(s) (Discharge Lounge)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The shared toilet is located opposite the discharge lounge.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 13m from the Programmed Treatment Unit entrance.
    • There is written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The visual contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is medium.
    • The colour contrast between the internal toilet door(s) and wall(s) is high.
    • The colour contrast between the walls and floor is high.
    • Toilet seats do not have a high visual contrast.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 80cm.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The wall fixed soap dispenser is located above the basin.
    • Lighting levels are good.

Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities (New Building)

  • Accessible toilet facilities are located on level 1 of the new building, across the foyer from the reception desk, on level 2 of the new building, in the Spoons restaurant near the escalator, on level 2 of the Outpatients building, in the Coffee Doc Café, on level 7 of the Outpatients building, on level 9 of the Critical Care building and on the Old Victorian corridor.
  • Female and male standard toilet facilities are located on level 1 of the new building, across the foyer from the reception desk, on level 2 of the Outpatients building in the Coffee Doc Café, on level 7 of the Outpatients building and on the ground floor of the ENT building.
  • Shared standard toilet facilities are located on level 2 of the new building, in the Spoons restaurant near the escalator.
  • Shared standard toilet facilities are located on level 9 of the Critical Care building.
  • Parent and baby changing facilities are located on level 1, across the foyer from the reception desk.

Related Access Guides