Freeman Hospital, Newcastle

The Project

When temporary medical facilities are introduced, ensuring safe and accessible entry for patients and staff is essential. For this project at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, our team was asked to provide a compliant ramp solution to a portable medical imaging unit within a very short timeframe.

Working closely with our partner and the on-site team, we delivered a practical access solution designed to meet the needs of the hospital while keeping disruption to a minimum. Read on to see how the project came together.

Application: Public Access (Non domestic)
Location: Freeman Hospital, Newcastle
System: Modular Ramp

A modular ramp leading to a white modular building outside a hospital. The rails are black with a silver metal mesh surface. There is a yellow strip at the start of the ramp which is yellow nosing as a visual cue that the ramp is starting.

Requirements

The requirement for this project, was the supply and installation of a semi-permanent metal modular access ramp to a portable medical imaging unit, supplied by one of our partners who we have worked with for several years. This unit was only going to be in place for 4 weeks and was to be removed once the unit was relocated.

It was requested by the customer that the ramp projected straight from the door and be as short as possible while still compliant, so that patients using the ramp could access the unit as quickly as possible. It was also requested that the ramp be suitable for use by beds/stretchers – the doorway to the unit was automatic opening so the decision was for hospital staff to fully open the doorway and then transport patients into the unit.

As this was a very short-term solution, we used our stocked expanded metal mesh and standard handrails, meaning the turnaround time from survey to install was 3 days. Once the ramp was removed the customer was able to take this equipment back into their stores for use at another site.

Features

The ramp needed to be suitable and fit for purpose, following on from our site survey we determined that the ramp needed to have the following specification:

  • Standard Handrails – the ramp was under the recommendation height of 380mm for balustrade so standard handrails were specified, handrails are used to prevent wheelchairs from going over the edge of a raised ramp area.
  • The ramp was 4m in length to achieve 1 :14 gradient
  • Expanded Metal Mesh surface – stocked item.
  • 1 : 14 gradient as per surveyors’ recommendation during survey
  • Continuous handrails – we used our standard connectors which allow continuous handrails meaning we could ensure compliance with building regulations.
  • Accompanying 2D plan and 3D elevation drawings.
  • Colour contrasting highlighted edges – these 55mm yellow strips provide a visual contrast for users with visual impairments.
  • Internal ramp – A Quick Ramp was used internally as there was a 12mm on the inside of the doorway.

End Result

The install was completed after 4 hours on site; our installers were able to consult with the contractor on site who were busy finishing of the installation imaging unit and making ready for opening, the hospital was very keen to have this opened due to service backlogs and overcrowding. The site manager was able to assist Easiaccess with the site access and consult with the team during install as it was still a live hospital site.

We are delighted with the outcome of this project, the ramp looks brilliant and it was great to collaborate with this partner again and be able to assist them on such a local project. We appreciate collaborating with them and it was great the ramp was removed after 4 week and used on one of their other projects.

2D and 3D Plans

Gallery

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