Accessibility lounge, Accessible Toilet and Changing Places Toilet
4
4
Date of visit: October 2024
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hidden impairment, powerchair, toilet with hoist, toilets, walking aid, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Good
I had initially planned to review the Changing Places toilet solely but I was surprised by the facilities around it. The Changing Places toilet is available 24/7 and is located in the Accessibility Lounge, which offers a comfortable space for passengers to arrange or await assistance.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The station is accessible throughout, with level and step-free access. The signage is pretty good overall, though there was no indication of the sensory facilities available until I arrived at the lounge. The lounge has soft seats, soft lighting, a BSL departures screen and a low reception desk. It features a sensory nook with soft padding and ambient lighting. The lounge also features a height-adjustable workstation and charging facilities. Though not directly relevant to the lounge, there are lifts throughout the station which have braille buttons. An induction loop operates at the desk in the lounge.
Parking & Transport
Good
There are both long and short-stay car parks operated by APCOA. Network Rail advises that there are 35 accessible spaces, though these are not free to use. There are tram stops local to the station, all of which are wheelchair accessible (as are the trams). There are bus routes on nearby Sheffield Street and Travis Street and a Taxi Rank at the Fairfield Street entrance.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
There is an accessible toilet and a Changing Places toilet in this area, with additional accessible toilets in other parts of the station. It's worth noting that the toilets in the lounge are much more pleasant to use, and better looked after. The Changing Places toilet is on the right, just past the sensory nook. This toilet features an adjustable change bed with a ceiling track hoist and shower. The toilet seat has a soft backrest with grab rails on both sides and space for a left-side and right-side transfer. A large adjustable sink, with lever-style tap and grab rails on both sides is located close to the colostomy shelf. There are emergency cords at the door, near the sink and close to the toilet, all of which are hung to the floor on my visit. The accessible toilet is kept to the same clean standard as the Changing Places toilet, though it's much smaller. The toilet has a soft backrest with grab rails on both sides, though only a right-side transfer is possible. There's a low small sink with grab rails on both sides and and lever-style tap. The red cord hung to the floor. Neither toilet requires a RADAR key and the doors are secured from the inside by raising the handle. The additional toilets throughout the station require a RADAR key to enter.
Staff
Excellent
I can't fault the accessibility team. They were happy to speak with me about the facilities, seemed rather enthused about the work they do and were pleasant to meet.
Additional Information
Though not in place at the moment, there are plans to install voice guidance within the Changing Places toilet and accessible toilet
