Access Guide

Search Access Guide

Getting To The Hospital

By Road View
- The main hospital entrance to the Freeman Hospital is located off Freeman Road. The Freeman Hospital is at the north of Newcastle in High Heaton. It can be easily accessed by public transport or car. If you have a sat nav, postcode is NE7 7DN.
- The Blue Badge parking areas and the multi storey car park are located off Freeman Road.
By Bus View
- The nearest bus stop to the Freeman Hospital main entrance is located on Freeman Road. There are two Bus services. Zone 27 routes 3,18,32,38,A. Zone 17 routes 3,6,7,8,18,32,38,340,16.
By Train View
- The nearest National Rail station is Newcastle.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).

Getting Help and Assistance

There is not a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital.
The email address for the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is [email protected].
There are volunteers available for help and assistance at the hospital.
Water bowls for assistance dogs are available.
Mobility aids are available to help patients move around and include; wheelchairs.
There is a Changing Places facility at this hospital which is located at the front right of the first corridor on the right as you enter via the main entrance.
To view the Changing Places Accessibility Guide please click here.
Interpreting services can be provided by the Trust and confirmation of booking details can be provided by the PALS team.
Additional hospital services link (new tab) - click here.

Hospital Parking (Car Park 1)

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Parking View
- The hospital does have a dedicated car park.
- The car park is located in front of the hospital.
- 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.
- Controls at the barrier are within the range of 100cm to 110cm.
- The barrier controls/touchscreen can be reached from the car.
- The car park surface is tarmac.
- There is a/are clearly marked/signposted 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 366cm x 591cm.
- Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders do not need to be booked in advance.
Drop-off Point View
- There is a designated drop-off point.
- The drop-off point is located at the front of the main entrance.
- There is a dropped kerb from the drop-off point.
- The dropped kerb does not have tactile paving.
Paying View
- 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 not make it clear if parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders.
- Parking is 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 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).
Access to the Hospital View
- 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.
- The route from the car park to the hospital entrance is clearly signposted.
- The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 169m (184yd 2ft) from the main entrance.
Comments View
- In order to ensure vehicles are registered for free parking on the day of attendance, Blue Badge holders are required to provide their registration number to reception, by telephone to 0191 2231353 or via email to [email protected]. This applies for each visit to the hospital.

Getting To (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit)

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Paediatric Intensive Care Unit is/are located on level 3.
Access to Paediatric Intensive Care Unit is via the Cardiothoracic Entrance.
After entering the Cardiothoracic entrance, continue past reception and turn right.
Proceed past the toilets and turn left and then follow this corridor to the lifts on the left. Continue ahead and turn right, follow the corridor to the end and go through the double doors and turn right.
There is step free access, via lift, to Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Paediatric Intensive Care Unit is approximately 14m from the lifts.
There is a/are manual, double door(s) which may be difficult to open between the lifts and the department/service.
There are resting areas along the route.
Wayfinding signage is provided.
Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
There is 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.

Outside Access (Cardiothoracic Entrance)

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Entrance Details View
- This information is for the entrance located at the side 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 not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the door opening is 127cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
- 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 127cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
Ramp/Slope Details View
- The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
- The ramp/slope gradient is easy.
- The ramp/slope is permanent.
- There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.

Other Floors

Steps View
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are 1-2-3-4.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked.
- The steps are deep (18cm+).
- The steps do have handrails.
- The steps have a handrail on both sides.
- There is a landing.
- The lighting levels are medium.

Lift

There is a lift for public use.
The lift is located to the right of the building.
The lift is approximately 66m (72yd 6in) from the cardiothoracic entrance.
The lift is a standard lift.
The floors which are accessible by this lift are 1-2-3-4.
The platform lift accesses a small level change.
Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
The clear door width is 128cm (4ft 2in).
The dimensions of the lift are 157cm x 276cm (5ft 2in x 9ft 1in).
There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
The lift does have an audible announcer.
The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
The lift does not have Braille markings.
The lift does have tactile markings.
The lighting level in the lift is low.

Reception

The main reception is located to the right as you enter.
The reception area/desk is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the Cardiothoracic entrance.
The reception area/desk is clearly visible from the entrance.
There is step free access to the reception area/desk.
The lighting levels at the reception area/desk are medium.
The height of the reception desk is low (76cm or lower).
There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the desk.
The desk is staffed.
There is a hearing assistance system.
The type of system is a fixed loop.
The hearing assistance system is signed.
Staff are trained to use the system.

Ward (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit)

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Ward Information View
- This is a/an Intensive Care ward.
- This is a shared ward.
- There is/are 1 bay(s) available.
- There is/are 4 side room(s) available.
- There is/are 13 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) may be difficult to open.
- The width of the door opening is 170cm (5ft 7in).
- There is an intercom.
- The height of the intercom is 114cm (3ft 9in).
- There is a hand sanitiser.
- The height of the hand sanitiser is 113cm (3ft 8in).
- There is a door release button when exiting.
- The height of the door release button is 115cm (3ft 9in).
- 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 Nurses' Station desk is 105cm.
- There is a lowered section.
- The height of the lowered section of the desk is 73cm.
- 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 is one side room available with an accessible ensuite.
- 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 room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre around the bed.
- Bedside storage is available.
- The colour contrast between the walls and the floor in the side room is good.
- 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 wheel in shower, a toilet and a wash basin.
- The colour contrast between the walls and the floor in the ensuite is good.
- The lighting levels in the ensuite are good.
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 on the ground floor of the hospital.
- There are no standard toilet facilities on the ward for visitors.
- Standard toilet facilities for visitors are located on the ground floor of the hospital.
Visiting Times View
- There are no set visiting times, please contact the ward in advance.
- The visiting times are the same for each day.
- Visiting are welcome at all times, however it is preferred if visitors leave before 20:00.