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Easthorpe Ward

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

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Access Guide

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Parking (Gainsborough Wing Accessible Parking 1)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located on the right side of the front of the hospital grounds.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 15+ designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays have faded markings.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 244cm (width) x 477cm (depth).
    • The hatched/marked zones vary between bays.
    • The width of the marked zone is 117cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 30m from the Gainsborough Wing 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 (Easthorpe Ward)

  • The Easthorpe Ward is/are located on the first floor of the Gainsborough Wing.
  • Access to the Easthorpe Ward is via the Gainsborough Wing entrance.
  • Enter the Gainsborough Wing entrance and follow the signage to the lifts. Take the lift to the first floor. On exiting the lift go forward through the double doors in front of you. Immediately turn right and go through the next set of double doors directly in front of you. Follow the corridor around, walking past the toilets and turning right. Go through the double doors and follow the corridor straight. Keep walking through the corridor taking the right turning and go through the double doors at the end. The Easthorpe Ward will be directly ahead of you.
  • There is step free access, via lift, to the Easthorpe Ward.
  • The Easthorpe Ward is approximately 62m from the lift.
  • There is a/are manual, heavy, double door(s) between the Gainsborough Wing 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 (Gainsborough Wing Entrance)

  • This entrance is located on the right side of the front of the hospital building.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • 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 slope at the entrance.
  • The slope has a slight gradient.
  • There is an intercom at a height of 141cm.
  • The height of the hand sanitiser is 131cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 152cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 143cm.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors.
  • The second set of doors are permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 150cm.
  • The second set of doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.
  • This entrance brings you into the ground floor of the Gainsborough Wing.

Lift (Gainsborough Wing Lift 1)

  • The lift surveyed is located to the left as you enter the hospital via the Gainsborough Wing entrance.
  • The distance from the Gainsborough Wing entrance is 10m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
  • The ground, first and second floor 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 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 125cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 155cm (width) x 269cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and 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 and a hearing assistance alarm system.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.

Ward (Easthorpe Ward)

  • Ward Information View
    • This is a/an endocrine ward.
    • This is a shared ward.
    • There is/are 3 bay(s) available.
    • There is/are 9 side room(s) available.
    • There is/are 21 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) automatically (away from you).
    • The automatic door(s) is/are push pad activated.
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 150cm (4ft 11in) .
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is a hand sanitiser.
    • The height of the hand sanitiser is 133cm (4ft 4in) .
    • There is a door release button when exiting.
    • The height of the door release button is 91cm (2ft 11in) .
    • There is level access throughout the ward.
    • There is no clear signage on the ward.
    • The type of flooring is vinyl/laminate.
    • There is flooring on the ward which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • The lighting levels are varied.
  • Reception/Nurses' Station View
    • The height of the ward reception desk is 114cm.
    • There is a lowered section.
    • The height of the lowered section of the desk is 71cm.
    • 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 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 multiple side rooms available with accessible ensuites.
    • The side room surveyed does have an accessible ensuite.
    • The width of the door opening into the side room is over 75cm.
    • The side room surveyed does not have a ceiling track hoist.
    • There is not 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 available.
    • The visual contrast between the walls and the floor in the side room is medium.
    • The lighting levels in the side room are good.
    • The width of the door opening into the ensuite is over 75cm.
    • There is not a clear unobstructed turning space within the ensuite.
    • The fixtures/facilities available in the ensuite include; a shower, a toilet and a wash basin.
    • The visual contrast between the walls and the floor in the ensuite is high.
    • The lighting levels in the ensuite are moderate to good.
  • Ward Features and Patient Facilities View
    • A hearing assistance system can be brought in from another department/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 no accessible toilet facilities on the ward for visitors.
    • Accessible toilet facilities for visitors are located on the first floor of the Gainsborough Wing.
    • There are no standard toilet facilities on the ward for visitors.
    • Standard toilet facilities for visitors are located on the first floor of the Gainsborough Wing.
  • Visiting Times View
    • There are set visiting times for the ward.
    • Visiting times are 11:00 to 20:00.
    • The visiting times are the same for each day.
    • Protected meal times are between 12:00 to 13:00.

Reception (Easthorpe Ward)

  • Reception View
    • The reception point is located in the main ward corridor.
    • The reception point is approximately 8m (26ft) from the Easthorpe Ward 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 not 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 high (110cm+).
    • 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 not provided in the reception area.
  • Reception Waiting Area View
    • There is not a waiting area close to the reception point.

Day Room / Lounge Area (Easthorpe Ward)

  • There is a day room/lounge area.
  • The day room/lounge area is approximately 3m from the Easthorpe Ward 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.
  • The door(s) is/are heavy.
  • The width of the door opening is 78cm (2ft 7in).
  • 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 10cm (4in).
  • The distance between the floor and the highest table is 70cm (2ft 4in).
  • 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 not 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 bright.

Related Access Guides (Colchester General Hospital)