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Critical Care Department

Colchester General Hospital, Turner Road, Colchester, Essex, CO4 5JL

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Access Guide

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Parking (Front Accessible Parking)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located on the left side of the front of the hospital grounds.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of block paving.
    • There are 10 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays have faded markings.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 232cm (width) x 490cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides but not at the rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 129cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 125m from the main hospital entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has steep ramps or slopes, uneven surfaces and a pedestrian crossing.
    • There is a dropped kerb with tactile paving from the designated Blue Badge parking.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Getting To (Critical Care Department)

  • The Critical Care Department is/are located on the first floor of the main hospital block.
  • Access to the Critical Care Department is via the Main Hospital entrance.
  • Enter via the Main Hospital entrance and follow the signage to the lifts. Take the lift to the first floor. On exiting the lift turn left and go through the set of double doors. Continue down this corridor and take a left turn at the end of it. Follow the corridor forward. The Critical Care Department will be located to the left.
  • There is step free access, via lift, to the Critical Care Department.
  • The Critical Care Department is approximately 20m from the main hospital block lifts.
  • 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 some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
  • There is some flooring in corridors which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.

Entrance (Main Hospital Entrance)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the hospital building.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via a very easy slope at the entrance.
  • The height of the hand sanitiser is 118cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 178cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors.
  • The second set of doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 165cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The second set of doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.
  • This entrance brings you into the ground floor of the Main Block.

Lift (Main Block Lifts A)

  • The lift surveyed is located along the corridor at the rear of the main hospital entrance foyer.
  • The distance from the main hospital entrance is 35m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
  • The ground and first floor 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 a low visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 128cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 149cm (width) x 265cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have a low visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing, a hearing assistance alarm system and a visual floor indicator.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.

Entrance (Corridor)

  • Entrance Details View
    • This information is for the entrance located on the first floor, in the main hospital block corridor.
    • 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 bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is a hand sanitiser.
    • The height of the hand sanitiser is 135cm (4ft 5in).
    • There is not a door release button when exiting.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 164cm.

Ward (Critical Care Department)

  • Ward Information View
    • This is a/an Critical Care ward.
    • This is a shared ward.
    • There is/are 2 bay(s) available.
    • There is/are 5 side room(s) available.
    • There is/are 14 bed(s) on this ward in total.
  • Ward Access View
    • There is a/are door(s) leading into the ward.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 180cm (5ft 11in).
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is an intercom.
    • The height of the intercom is 135cm (4ft 5in).
    • There is not a hand sanitiser.
    • There is a door release button when exiting.
    • The height of the door release button is 120cm (3ft 11in).
    • There is level access throughout the ward.
    • There is clear signage on the ward.
    • The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
    • There is some flooring on the ward which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • There is some flooring on the ward which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • The lighting levels are medium.
  • Reception/Nurses' Station View
    • The height of the Nurses' Station desk is 76cm.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system available at the desk.
  • Relatives' Room View
    • There is a relatives' room for the ward.
    • The width of the door opening into the relatives' room is over 75cm.
    • There is not a clear turning space in the relatives' room.
    • There is a/are chair(s) with armrests available within the relatives' room.
  • Example Side Room View
    • There are no side rooms available with an accessible ensuite.
    • The width of the door opening into the side room is over 75cm.
    • The side room surveyed does have a ceiling track hoist.
    • The hoist covers the bed.
    • There is sufficient space next to the bed for a mobile hoist to operate.
    • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre around the bed.
    • Bedside storage is not available.
    • The visual contrast between the walls and the floor in the side room is high.
    • The lighting levels in the side room are bright.
  • Ward Features and Patient Facilities View
    • A hearing assistance system is not available on the ward.
    • The ward does not play background music.
    • There is a chair with armrests on both sides.
    • A mobile hoist is available on the ward.
  • Visitor Facilities View
    • There are accessible toilet facilities on the ward for visitors.
    • There are no standard toilet facilities on the ward for visitors.
    • Standard toilet facilities for visitors are located in the corridor leading to the Critical Care Department entrance.
  • Visiting Times View
    • There are set visiting times for the ward.
    • Visiting times are 09:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 20:00.
    • The visiting times are the same for each day.

Day Room / Lounge Area (Critical Care Department)

  • There is a day room/lounge area.
  • The day room/lounge area is approximately 14m from the Critical Care Department entrance.
  • There is level access into the day room/lounge area.
  • The day room/lounge area is always open.
  • There is a/are door(s) into the day room/lounge area.
  • The door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
  • The door(s) is/are single width with a locked extension leaf.
  • The door(s) is/are heavy.
  • The width of the door opening is 88cm (2ft 11in).
  • The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
  • There is a space for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • There is a mixture of seating with and without armrests.
  • No chairs are permanently fixed.
  • Some tables are permanently fixed.
  • The distance between the floor and the lowest table is 44cm (1ft 5in).
  • The distance between the floor and the highest table is 86cm (2ft 10in).
  • The room does not have background music playing.
  • There is not a flashing fire alarm beacon within the room.
  • There is a television.
  • Subtitles are 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 medium.

Toilet with Adaptations

  • Accessible toilet facilities are available.
  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet is not for the sole use of disabled people.
    • There is written text and pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is located along the wards main corridor, opposite the relatives room.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 12m (13yd 4in) from the Critical Care Department entrance.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a unisex toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • The door opens inwards.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The door is light.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 89cm (2ft 11in).
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 245cm x 285cm (8ft x 9ft 4in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 180cm (5ft 11in).
    • There are dropdown rails on both sides of the toilet.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • There is not a spatula type lever flush.
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is not fully functional.
    • The alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
    • There is a/are female sanitary and waste paper pedal bin disposal units.
    • There is not a flashing fire alarm beacon within the cubicle.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall mounted grab rails are available for the toilet.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on the left.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a mirror.
    • Mirrors are not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 46cm (1ft 6in).
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • 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 127cm (4ft 2in).
    • 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 soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 85cm.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • There is a high visual contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • There is a fair colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is fair.
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are medium.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Availability and Location of Standard Toilets View
    • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Access to Standard Female and Male Toilet(s) View
    • The female and male toilet facilities that were surveyed are located along the corridor before the Critical Care Department entrance.
    • The female and male toilets are approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the corridor entrance.
    • Inside the venue, there is level access to the female and male toilets.
    • An ambulant toilet with wall mounted grab rails is not available.
    • Lighting levels are medium.

Related Access Guides (Colchester General Hospital)