Access Guide
Getting To The Hospital
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By Road
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- The Birmingham City Hospital is located on Dudley Road and can be accessed by the M5. Head north on M5, At junction 3, take the A456 exit to Birmingham (W & C) At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Quinton Expy/A456 and then At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Hagley Road W/A456, Follow A4040 and Dudley Road/A457 to your destination in Birmingham. Turn left onto Barnsley Rd/A4040 and then turn right onto Sandon Road/A4040 Turn left onto City Road/A4040 and then turn right onto Dudley Rd/A457 and the Birmingham City Hospital is located on the left.
- Birmingham City Hospital has multiple car parks located near all main buildings.
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By Bus
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- The nearest bus stop is located on Dudley Road 0.2 miles from Birmingham City Hospital.
- There is not an onsite bus stop.
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By Train
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- The nearest train station is Jewellery Quarter 1.5 miles from Birmingham City Hospital.
Getting Help and Assistance
- 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 0121 553 1831.
- The email address for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is [email protected].
- Documents are available in an alternative format and can be provided to include: Braille on request, large print on request and Makaton on request.
- There is not an assistance dog toilet or toileting area on the hospital site.
- Water bowls for assistance dogs are not available.
- BSL interpreters can be provided on request.
- Language interpreters can be provided on request.
- A mobility scooter charging point is not available at the hospital.
- Mobility aids are available to help patients move around and include; wheelchairs and adjustable beds.
Hospital Parking (Main Hospital Car Park)
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Parking
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- The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
- The car parking facilities are for Blue Badge holders only.
- The car park is located at the rear of the hospital site.
- 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.
- The barrier controls/touchscreen can be reached from the car.
- The car park surface is concrete.
- There is a/are Blue Badge parking bay(s) available.
- The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
- There is/are 10+ designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the hospital car park.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 230cm x 470cm (7ft 7in x 15ft 5in).
- There is 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 make it clear if parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders.
- Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
- Payment machines are located throughout the 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).
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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 uneven surfaces.
- The hospital entrance is not clearly visible from the car park.
- The route from the car park to the hospital entrance is not clearly signposted.
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Comments
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- The nearest designated blue badge bay is 100m+ from the hospital.
Hospital Parking (Sheldon Block)
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Parking
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- The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
- The car park is located to the front of the hospital block.
- 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 not a/are not Blue Badge parking bay(s) available.
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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 throughout the car park.
- Payment signs do make it clear if parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders.
- Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
- Payment machines are located across a service road in another unnamed staff and visitor 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).
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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 clearly visible from the car park.
Outside Access (Sheldon Block 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 ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
- There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
- The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- There is a dark mat or floor marking at this entrance that might be perceived as a hole.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- There is a hand sanitiser.
- The height of the hand sanitiser is 138cm (4ft 6in).
- There is a door release button when exiting.
- The height of the door release button is 102cm (3ft 4in).
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the door opening is 155cm.
- 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 160cm.
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Ramp/Slope Details
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- The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
- The ramp/slope gradient is slight.
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Comments
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- On the date of survey 02.03.23 the exit button was not required to exit the building.
Getting Around (Sheldon Block)
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Access
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- There is step free access throughout the building via lift(s).
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Circulation
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- There are doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
- The type of flooring in walkways and corridors is vinyl and laminate.
- There is some flooring in corridors which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
- There is flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- Handrails are not provided in corridors.
- Seating is provided in some corridors.
- There is good colour contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
- The lighting levels are moderate to good.
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Signage and Wayfinding
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- Wayfinding signage is provided.
- The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout the building.
- The wayfinding signage does not include pictograms.
- Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
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Safe Place(s)
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- There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
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Audio
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- This venue does not play background music in public areas.
- There is not a hearing assistance system in the public areas of the building.
Other Floors
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Stairs
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- Signs indicating the location of the stairs are not clearly visible from the entrance.
- There are manual, double doors which may be difficult to open to enter and exit the stairwell on all floors.
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G,1,2,3.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
- The steps are clearly marked.
- The steps do have handrails.
- The steps have a handrail on both sides.
- Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
- Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- Handrails are not easy to grip.
- Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
- There is a landing.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor of the building are not provided on landings.
- The lighting levels are moderate to good.
Lift (Lift Numbers 27 and 28)
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located straight ahead and to the right as you enter the Sheldon Block entrance.
- Signs indicating the location of this lift are not clearly visible from the entrance.
- The lift is approximately 10m (10yd 2ft) from the Sheldon Block 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 1, 2, 3.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are 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 colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is poor.
- The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is good.
- The clear door width is 131cm (4ft 4in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 162cm x 275cm (5ft 4in x 9ft).
- There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
- There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
- There is 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 a hearing assistance system.
- The lift does have Braille markings.
- The lift does have tactile markings.
- The lighting level in the lift is moderate to good.
Accessible Toilet(s)
- There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
- The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located in the Sheldon Block first floor on the Cataract/Pre Assessment department.
Standard Toilet(s) (Ground Floor Gender Neutral)
- Standard toilet facilities are available.
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Toilet Facilities
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- The gender neutral toilet is located on the ground floor.
- There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
- The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 8m from the main entrance.
- There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
- The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
- The colour contrast between the internal toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
- The colour contrast between the walls and floor is good.
- The toilet seats have a good colour contrast.
- An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
- The height of the wash basin(s) is 89cm.
- The wash basin(s) tap type is sensor.
- There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
- The wall fixed soap dispenser is located above left of the wash basin.
- Lighting levels are low to moderate.
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Comments
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- There a similar toilets on floors 1, 2, and 3.
Related Access Guides
- To view other Detailed Access Guides that are related to this one please use the links below.
- Birmingham City Main Hospital link (new tab) - click here.
- Birmingham City Hospital Parking Guide link (new tab) - click here.