Access Guide
Getting To The Hospital
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By Road
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- 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.
- Turn off the M1/A12 and follow the signs for the Royal Victoria Hospital.
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By Bus
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- 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.
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By Train
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- The nearest railway station is Belfast Grand Central Station, located approximately 0.6 miles away on Grosvenor Road.
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Useful Links
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- Bus and train fares and timetables.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- Bus and train accessibility advice.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- Hospital website with further details on getting to the hospital .
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
Getting Help and Assistance (Children's 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 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 main 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 and 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.
- There is a Safe Place at this hospital which is located at the Fall's Road entrance (Quiet Room).
- To view the Safe Place Accessibility Guide please click here.
- Useful Links View
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Comments
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- PALS is available via telephone only.
Getting to the Children's Hospital from the Royal Victoria Hospital
- From the Royal Victoria Hospital main entrance, bear right and cross the access road to the pavement opposite (photographs 1 to 2).
- Go past the pillar and follow the path as it bends to the left (photograph 3).
- There is a slight slope down and black pillars on the right at the kerb edge.
- At the junction turn right and cross the service road (photograph 4). There are dropped kerbs with tactile paving to each pavement.
- Follow the covered walkway on the right hand side of the main hospital road, past the maternity hospital and zebra crossing across the access road from the new maternity hospital, until you can go no further (photographs 5 to 9).
- The route is flat for the full section (about 180m).
- Turn left to cross the main hospital road at the zebra crossing (photograph 10).
- Turn right and follow the pavement on the left side of the main hospital road, to the next zebra crossing (photographs 11 to 12).
- Turn right to cross the main hospital road at the zebra crossing (photograph 13).
- Turn right to follow the pedestrian path in the car park, then follow the pavement to the left and back up the ramped path on the left of the slip road (photographs 14 to 16). The slope is slight but long.
- At the top of the slope turn right across the zebra crossing (photograph 17).
- The entrance to the Children's Hospital is to the left.
Hospital Parking (Children's Hospital Car Park)
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Parking
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- The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
- The car park is located on the basement level.
- 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.
- There is a touchscreen at the barrier.
- 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 signposted and have markings which are faded.
- There is/are 5 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the hospital car park.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 252cm x 420cm (8ft 3in x 13ft 9in).
- There is not a 120cm hatched zone around the Blue Badge parking bay(s).
- The dimensions of other designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) vary in size.
- 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 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 not make it clear if parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders.
- Parking is not 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 not 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 not 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 10m (10yd 2ft) from the lift to the main Children's Hospital entrance.
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Comments
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- Part of the car park is sheltered.
- There is a lift up from the basement to the lower level where the main entrance to the Children's Hospital is located.
- Alternatively visitors can walk around the outside of the car park up a steep hill (shown in photos 12-15).
Hospital Parking (Children's Hospital Blue Badge Parking and Drop Off)
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Parking
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- The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
- The car park is located to the left of the main Children's Hospital 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 signposted and have markings which are faded.
- There is/are 9 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the hospital car park.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 242cm x 577cm (7ft 11in x 18ft 11in).
- There is not a 120cm hatched zone around the Blue Badge parking bay(s).
- The dimensions of other designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) vary in size.
- 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 in the front of the Children's Hospital 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 not provided.
- Parking is not free for Blue Badge holders.
- Payment machines are located in the basement level car park.
- There is a payment machine at a convenient height for wheelchair users.
- There is not 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 unaided.
- The hospital entrance is not 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 54m (59yd 2in) from the Children's Hospital main entrance.
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Comments
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- The Blue Badge bays are chargeable. The payment machine is located in the basement level car park.
Lift (Car Park Access)
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located to the right of the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children Main Entrance.
- Signs indicating the location of this lift are not clearly visible from the entrance.
- The lift is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children 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 LG and Car Park Level.
- 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 low.
- The visual contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is high.
- The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 109cm x 140cm (3ft 7in x 4ft 7in).
- There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
- There is 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 not a hearing assistance system.
- The lift does not have Braille markings.
- The lift does have tactile markings.
- The lighting level in the lift is low to moderate.
Getting To (Outpatients)
- Outpatients is/are located on the lower ground floor.
- Access to Outpatients is via the the hospital main entrance.
- Enter the hospital via the main entrance.
Continue straight ahead and Outpatients is located on the left. - There is step free access to Outpatients.
- Outpatients is approximately 25m from the main hospital entrance.
- There are not 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 (The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children Main Entrance)
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Entrance Details
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- This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
- There is step free access at this entrance.
- There is not 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.
- There is not a hand sanitiser.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the door opening is 142cm.
- 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 142cm.
Opening Times (Outpatients)
- 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 (Outpatients)
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Entrance Details
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- This information is for the entrance located on the lower ground floor.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed with the name of the service/department.
- There is step free access at this entrance.
- There is not a hand sanitiser.
- There is not a door release button when exiting.
- The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- 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 81cm.
- There is a second set of doors.
- The 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 161cm.
Department / Service (Outpatients)
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Department / Service Access
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- Outpatients is located on the lower ground floor.
- There is level access throughout the department/service.
- There is clear signage on the department/service.
- The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
- There is some flooring in the department/service which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- The department/service does not play background music.
- The lighting levels are good.
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Department / Service Facilities
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- This department/service has; a main reception, a waiting room/area, consultation rooms, treatment rooms, accessible toilet facilities for everyone and standard toilet facilities.
- A hearing assistance system is not available in the department/service.
- A mobile hoist is available on the department/service.
- There are accessible toilet facilities within the department/service.
- There are standard toilet facilities within this department/service.
Reception (Outpatients)
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Reception
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- The reception point is located at the front of the department.
- The reception point is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the Outpatients entrance.
- The reception area/desk is clearly visible from the entrance.
- There is step free access to the reception point.
- There is a clear unobstructed route to the reception point.
- There are no windows, glazed screens or mirrors behind the reception point which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
- The reception counter is placed in front of a background which is patterned.
- The lighting levels at the reception point are good.
- The height of the reception counter is medium height (77cm - 109cm).
- There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the counter.
- There is a low section of the counter (76cm or below) available.
- There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the low section of the counter.
- The counter is staffed.
- There is not a bell to attract attention.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- Signs and universally accepted symbols or pictograms, indicating lifts, stairs, WCs, circulation routes and other parts of the building are provided in the reception area.
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Reception Waiting Area
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- There is a waiting area close to the reception point.
- Access to the waiting area is unobstructed.
- The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
- There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to use the waiting area.
- The seats do not have armrests.
- No tables are permanently fixed.
- The waiting room / area does 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 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 (Weights and Heights Room)
- There is / are 1 consultation / treatment room(s) available.
- The name / number of the room surveyed was; Weights and Heights Room.
- 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) is/are permanently held open.
- The width of the door opening is 77cm (2ft 6in).
- The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
- There is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
- There is not a bed / couch.
- 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.
Consultation / Treatment Room (Treatment Room)
- There is / are 1 consultation / treatment room(s) available.
- The name / number of the room surveyed was; Treatment Room.
- 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 81cm (2ft 8in).
- The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
- There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
- There is not a bed / couch.
- There is a chair.
- No chairs are permanently fixed.
- Some chairs are 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.
Parent and Baby Room
- The parent and baby room is located to the left of the main Outpatients reception.
- The parent and baby room is approximately 17m from the Outpatients entrance.
- There is step-free access into the parent and baby room.
- Staff do not need to be notified for use of the room.
- There is written text signage on or near the parent and baby room door.
- The baby change table is not set against the wall, permanently fixed at 75cm from the floor.
- The baby change table is not height adjustable.
- The height of the baby change table once extended is 86cm (2ft 10in).
- There are disposal facilities in the parent and baby room.
- There is a wash basin in the parent and baby room.
- The height of the wash basin is 81cm.
- The wash basin tap type is twist/turn.
- There is a/are chair(s) in the parent and baby room.
- There is not a chair with armrests on both sides.
- There is a toilet in the parent and baby room.
- There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the room.
- The lighting levels are good.
Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)
- There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
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Location and Access
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- This accessible toilet is located to the right of the reception desk.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 15m from the Outpatient department entrance.
- There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
- This is a shared toilet.
- A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
- There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
- The contrast between the external door and wall is high.
- The door opens inwards.
- The door is easy to open.
- The door is locked by a twist lock.
- The width of the accessible toilet opening is 86cm (2ft 10in).
- The contrast between the internal door and wall is high.
- The door does not have a horizontal grab rail.
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Toilet Features
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- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 189cm x 251cm (6ft 2in x 8ft 3in).
- The accessible toilet does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
- The lighting levels are good.
- There is a lateral transfer space.
- As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
- The lateral transfer space is 123cm.
- The transfer space is obstructed by a waste disposal bin.
- There is a flush on the transfer side.
- There is not a spatula type lever flush.
- There is a lever flush.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The visual contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is low.
- There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
- As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
- There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
- There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
- The visual contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) to the left of the toilet and wall is high.
- The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) to the right of the toilet and wall is low.
- The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
- There is an emergency alarm.
- There is a push button alarm in the toilet.
- There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
- Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
- There is a/are clinical waste and recycling bin disposal units.
- There is a/are coat hook(s).
- There are coat hooks in the toilet at 106cm and 160cm from the floor.
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Additional Fixtures
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- There is a mirror.
- The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
- There is a shelf within the accessible toilet.
- The shelf does not have the minimum dimensions of 12.5cm x 40cm.
- The shelf is at a height of 95cm.
- The shelf is located where it is reachable.
- The toilet has a wall which acts as a backrest.
- There is a lid attached to the toilet seat.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
- The toilet seat colour contrast is low.
- 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).
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 93cm (3ft 1in).
- The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is medium.
- There is a wash basin.
- The wash basin and tap(s) cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The wash basin is placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
- The height of the wash basin is 78cm (2ft 7in).
- There are no vertical wall-mounted grab rails at the wash basin.
- The wash basin tap type is twist turn mixer.
- There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
- The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 104cm.
- There is a towel dispenser.
- The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The height of the towel dispenser is 125cm (4ft 1in).
- The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is medium.
- There is not a hand dryer.
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Baby Changing Facilities
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- Baby changing facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
- There is a flip down baby change table available.
- The height of the baby change table is 83cm.
Standard Toilet(s)
- Standard toilet facilities are available.
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Toilet Facilities
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- The shared toilet is located on the main corridor.
- There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
- The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 20m from the Outpatients department entrance.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- The visual contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is high.
- 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 available.
- There is a/are horizontal wall mounted rail(s) on the right as you face the toilet.
- The visual contrast of the horizontal wall mounted grab rail(s) in the ambulant cubicle(s) is low.
- There is a/are vertical wall mounted rail(s) on the right as you face the toilet.
- The visual contrast of the vertical wall mounted grab rails in the ambulant cubicle(s) is low.
- The height of the wash basin(s) is 82cm.
- The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
- There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
- The wall fixed soap dispenser is located above the wash basin.
- Lighting levels are good.
Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities (Children's Hospital)
- Accessible toilet facilities are located to the left of the main entrance and to the left of the Falls Road entrance.
- Female and male standard toilet facilities are located to the left of the Falls Road entrance.
- Parent and baby changing facilities are located in the accessible toilet to the left of the Falls Road entrance.
Related Access Guides
- To view other Detailed Access Guides that are related to this one please use the links below.
- Children's Hospital Parking link (new tab) - click here.
- Children's Hospital - Building Guide link (new tab) - click here.
