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Mersea Ward

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 (Mersea Ward)

  • The Mersea Ward is/are located on the first floor of the main hospital block.
  • Access to the Mersea Ward 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 right and walk through both sets of double doors at either end of the corridor. Walk past the PALS entrance and go through the third set of double doors. Take a left and follow this corridor all the way down, going through three sets of double doors. Turn left and follow this corridor down and go through the automatic double doors directly ahead of you. Follow this corridor forward, going through another set of double doors. The Mersea Ward will be located directly ahead of you.
  • There is step free access, via lift, to the Mersea Ward.
  • The Mersea Ward is approximately 69m 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 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 (Mersea Ward Entrance)

  • Entrance Details View
    • This information is for the entrance located on the first floor, in the main hospital block corridor, opposite Senses Restaurant.
    • 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 a door release button when exiting.
    • The height of the door release button is 110cm (3ft 7in).
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 160cm.
    • 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 heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 160cm.

Reception (Mersea Ward)

  • Reception View
    • The reception point is located along the wards main corridor, opposite Bay C.
    • The reception point is approximately 25m (27yd 1ft) from the Mersea Ward entrance.
    • Clear signage for the reception area/desk is 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 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 not provided in the reception area.
  • Reception Waiting Area View
    • There is not a waiting area close to the reception point.

Ward (Mersea Ward)

  • Ward Information View
    • This is a/an elective surgery ward.
    • This is a shared ward.
    • There is/are 4 bay(s) available.
    • There is/are 16 side room(s) available.
    • There is/are 32 bed(s) on this ward in total.
  • Ward Access View
    • The height of the hand sanitiser is 135cm (4ft 5in).
    • 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.
    • The lighting levels are varied.
  • Reception/Nurses' Station View
    • The height of the ward reception desk is 107cm.
    • There is a lowered section.
    • The height of the lowered section of the desk is 76cm.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system available at the desk.
  • Relatives' Room View
    • There is not a relatives' room for the ward.
  • Example Side Room View
    • There are multiple side rooms available with accessible ensuites.
  • 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 no accessible toilet facilities on the ward for visitors.
    • Accessible toilet facilities for visitors are located within the Elective Care Centre.
    • There are no standard toilet facilities on the ward for visitors.
    • Standard toilet facilities for visitors are located within the Elective Care Centre.
  • 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 08:00 to 9:00 and 12:00 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 18:00.
  • Comments View
    • The side rooms were occupied at the time of the survey (September 2018).

Related Access Guides (Colchester General Hospital)