3rd July 2024
Belfast Trust, in partnership with AccessAble, has launched Detailed Access Guides to facilities, wards and departments at Royal Victoria Hospital, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital.
Each Detailed Access Guide describes the patient journey and gives disabled people, carers and those with long-term health conditions the information required to plan their visit in advance. The guides have been checked by trained surveyors and give lots of useful information, including photographs and detailed directions. They cover everything from arrival on the RVH site, to the facilities throughout the hospital, including lifts, stairs, reception areas, consultation rooms or wards and accessible toilets.
As everyone’s accessibility needs are different, the Trust acknowledges the need to have detailed, accurate information available. The Detailed Access Guides are available on Belfast Trust’s website and AccessAble’s website and App in a range of accessible formats including Easy Read.
The Guides will help support patients and services users, particularly those with disabilities to plan their journeys to and around the hospitals.
AccessAble is the UK’s leading provider of detailed disabled-access guides. It currently publishes information on 70,000 venues on behalf of 475 + partners including more than 60 NHS Trusts in England.
Anna Nelson, Chief Executive of AccessAble, said:
“We are thrilled to launch this partnership with Belfast Trust.
I would like to express my thanks to the Trust for championing the provision of hospital accessibility information and demonstrating what can be achieved through collaborative working and co-production.
There is a real opportunity now to roll this programme further across Northern Ireland to ensure disabled people and carers have the information they need, regardless of the healthcare service they visit.”
Dr Cathy Jack, Chief Executive at Belfast Trust said:
“Belfast Trust is committed to being an inclusive and accessible organisation for all those we serve. This investment in Access Guides will positively contribute to transforming patient experience in our hospitals. We are delighted to work with AccessAble and believe access to this information will make a real difference for our service users, particularly those who are disabled.