Access Guide
Overview (Royal Victoria Hospital)
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About
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- This is a hospital with multiple services and facilities available.
- Services available in the venue include: wards, departments, a restaurant, coffee shop, sandwich bar, convenience store and a Shopmobility facility.
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Parking and Public Transport
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- The venue has its own car park, with Blue Badge parking available.
- There is a drop-off point.
- The nearest step-free train station is Belfast Grand Central Station.
- For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Google Maps (opens new tab).
- View information on getting here (opens new tab).
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Getting In and Around
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- There is step-free access via a very easy slope at the most accessible entrance.
- There is an automatic revolving door to the left of the Main Entrance and a manual door to the right of the Falls Road entrance.
- There is step-free level access throughout, this may include the use of a lift.
- Access throughout may include doors permanently held open.
- All floors can be accessed via a standard lift.
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Getting Help and Assistance
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- There is seating available.
- There is a fixed hearing assistance system.
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair, an electric wheelchair and an electric scooter.
- There is a designated safe space which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
- The designated safe space is located opposite the convenience store near the Main Entrance.
- British Sign Language interpreters can be provided on request.
- Documents are available in the following formats: Braille (on request), large print (on request), different languages (on request), voice recognition CD (on request) and audio (on request).
- There is a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
- There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.
- Additional facilities/services include: an ATM machine and Wi-Fi.
Getting Around (Royal Victoria Hospital)
- There is step-free level access throughout all areas, this may include the use of a lift.
- Access throughout may include doors permanently held open.
- Some flooring is shiny and patterned.
- The visual contrast between the walls and floor varies between low and high.
- Some of the walls have a reflective finish.
- There is background noise in some areas of the venue.
- Wayfinding and dementia-friendly signage is provided.
- Signage is clearly visible with high contrasting colours.
- The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout.
- Seating available in the walkways includes: chairs with armrests and chairs without armrests.
- Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.
Room (Quiet Room)
- The room is located opposite the convenience store, near the Main Entrance.
- The distance from the Main Entrance is 25m.
- The most accessible route to the room has step-free level access.
- There is written text signage on or near the door.
- There is step-free level access into the room.
- There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 116cm.
- There is a single manual door with a high visual contrast.
- The door opens inwards.
- The door requires effort to open.
- The width of the opening is 87cm.
- There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 116cm.
- There is step-free level access throughout the room.
- There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
- There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
- The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
- Seating available in the room includes: chairs with armrests and chairs without armrests.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- Additional facilities/services include: ritual washing facilities.
- There is no (or very little) background noise in this room.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.
- The ritual washing facilities are in a separate room off the main room.
- There is a single door into the room which is permanently held open.
- The door has a high colour contrast and has an opening width of 90cm.
Lift (Hospital Underpass Entrance - RVH 16)
- The lift surveyed is located ahead when entering through the Hospital Underpass Entrance.
- The distance from the Hospital Underpass Entrance is 16m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has a very easy slope.
- Levels 0 and 1 are accessed by this lift.
- The lift door has a high visual contrast.
- The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
- The external lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
- None of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The lift door opening width is 90cm.
- The internal dimensions of the lift are 147cm (width) x 135cm (depth).
- The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
- The majority of the internal controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Stairs (Hospital Underpass Entrance)
- The stairs surveyed are located ahead when entering through the Hospital Underpass Entrance.
- Level 0 and Level 1 can be accessed by these stairs.
- There are 20+ steps between floors.
- The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
- The handrails are easy to grip.
- The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
- The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the highest step is 16cm.
- The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Escalators (Level 1 to Level 2)
- The escalators surveyed are located ahead then to the left after entering through the Main Entrance.
- Levels 1 and 2 are accessed by escalators.
- The escalator step markings are not clearly visible.
- The foot (bottom) and head (top) of the escalators are not clearly marked.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Lift (Lifts A - RVH 14-15)
- The lift surveyed is located ahead and to the right after entering through the Main Entrance.
- The distance from the Main Entrance is 56m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
- Levels 0 to 7 are accessed by this lift.
- The lift door has a medium visual contrast.
- The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
- The external lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
- Some of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The lift door opening width is 131cm.
- The internal dimensions of the lift are 153cm (width) x 262cm (depth).
- The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
- The majority of the internal controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
- There are other lifts available at this location which are of a similar size.
- There are other lifts available along the main hospital corridor that are very similar to the one surveyed.
Stairs (Stair A)
- The stairs surveyed are located ahead and to the right after entering through the Main Entrance.
- There is a single manual door to access the stairwell.
- Levels 1 to 7 can be accessed by these stairs.
- There are 20+ steps between floors.
- The steps have some clear markings and have handrails on both sides.
- The handrails are easy to grip.
- The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- The handrails extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
- The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the highest step is 15cm.
- The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
- Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade and unshaded light sources.
- There are other staircases available along the main hospital corridor that are very similar to the one surveyed.
Lift (Outpatients Building)
- The lift surveyed is located at the far end of the main hospital corridor.
- The distance from the Main Entrance is 226m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
- Levels 2 to 9 of the Outpatient building are accessed by this lift.
- The lift door has a high visual contrast.
- The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
- The external lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
- All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The lift door opening width is 140cm.
- The internal dimensions of the lift are 170cm (width) x 280cm (depth).
- The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
- Some of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit, a visual floor indicator, an audible announcer and a list of floor services/facilities.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
- There are other lifts available at this location which are of a similar size.
Stairs (Outpatients Building)
- The stairs surveyed are located to the right of the Outpatients building lifts.
- There is a single manual door to access the stairwell.
- Levels 1 to 9 of the Outpatients building can be accessed by these stairs.
- There are 20+ steps between floors.
- The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
- The handrails are easy to grip.
- The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- The handrails extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
- The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the highest step is 15cm.
- The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Lift (ENT Building)
- The lift surveyed is located at the far end of the ENT building corridor on Level G.
- The distance from the Falls Road Entrance is 83m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
- Levels G, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the ENT building are accessed by this lift.
- The lift door has a high visual contrast.
- The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
- The external lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
- All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The lift door opening width is 120cm.
- The internal dimensions of the lift are 136cm (width) x 228cm (depth).
- The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
- The majority of the internal controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing, a hearing assistance alarm system, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
- There are other lifts available at this location which are of a similar size.
Stairs (ENT Building)
- The stairs surveyed are located to the the right of the ENT building lifts.
- There is a single manual door to access the stairwell.
- Levels G, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 can be accessed by these stairs.
- There are 20+ steps between floors.
- The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
- The handrails are easy to grip.
- The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
- The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the highest step is 15cm.
- The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Lift (Critical Care Building)
- The lift surveyed is located to the left towards the end of the main corridor on Level 2.
- The distance from Lifts A - RVH 14 to 15 is 184m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
- Levels 2 to 9 of the Critical Care building are accessed by this lift.
- The lift door has a high visual contrast.
- The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
- The external lift control buttons have tactile markings and a high visual contrast.
- All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The lift door opening width is 130cm.
- The internal dimensions of the lift are 143cm (width) x 270cm (depth).
- The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a high visual contrast.
- The majority of the internal controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
- There are other lifts available at this location which are of a similar size.