Available free via www.dbth.nhs.uk, the Detailed Access Guides have been developed with AccessAble and funded by DBTH Charity to help people prepare for their visit.
Trained surveyors visited Bassetlaw Hospital, Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital to record details on entrances, lifts, toilets, parking, lighting, signage and assistive listening facilities, helping people check access arrangements and plan any support they may need before travelling.
Adrian Petts, Head of Charity at DBTH Charity, said: “We’re really proud to have funded this project, which will help patients, visitors and colleagues feel more confident when visiting our hospitals. Having clear, practical accessibility information available in advance can reduce uncertainty and help people feel better prepared.
“Thanks to the generosity of our local communities, we can support projects like this that enhance experiences beyond what the NHS alone can provide.”
The guides cover a wide range of access requirements, including mobility and sensory needs, and offer useful details for those who may feel anxious about unfamiliar environments.
They highlight stoma-friendly facilities, Changing Places toilets and quiet spaces for neurodivergent users or anyone who needs a calmer environment, allowing people to check whether these meet their needs before travelling.
Anna Nelson, Chief Executive at AccessAble, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Trust to make detailed accessibility information available to patients, visitors and their families.
“Visiting hospital can be daunting, particularly when you are unsure what to expect or whether your individual access requirements will be met. Having reliable, detailed information in advance can make a real difference, helping people plan their visits with confidence and make informed decisions about their care.
“I want to thank colleagues across the Trust for their commitment to improving accessibility, and Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Charity for funding this important work. This is a fantastic example of how charitable funding can make a lasting difference, empowering disabled people and their families with the information they need to access healthcare with greater confidence and independence.”
Free to use and integrated directly into the Trust’s website, the guides are optimised for mobile phones, making them easy to consult both before arriving and while on site.
Features on the AccessAble website include Recite Me, which allows users to listen to content as audio, translate it into multiple languages, or adjust font size, colour contrast and background colours.
Convo video interpreting is also available for users of British Sign Language (BSL), providing support to members of the Deaf community.
Kirsty Clarke, Associate Chief Nurse at DBTH, said: “We want everyone who visits our hospitals to feel welcome and supported. These Detailed Access Guides provide practical information to help people plan ahead, understand what to expect and feel more confident and independent when accessing our services.
“Alongside supporting individual visits, the findings and recommendations from AccessAble will help us identify and prioritise accessibility improvements across our three hospital sites, informing both short-term actions and longer-term plans.
“We’re grateful to our Charity for funding this project and helping us make our hospitals more accessible and inclusive.”
To use the guides, visit the DBTH website: https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/
You can also search Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on the AccessAble website.
For more information about AccessAble, please contact Ellen Ilott at ellen.ilott@AccessAble.co.uk or on 01438 842710.
