We have a longstanding commitment to promote equality, eliminate harassment and value the diversity of our patients and staff. Equality means treating all our patients, visitors and staff fairly and ensuring that our services are equally accessible and understandable to all.
If you need information, such as leaflets and advice in a different format e.g. braille or large text, please email the accessibility team.
For more information, suggestions or how we can help you, contact the Patient advice and liaison service (PALS).
How would you like us to communicate with you?
If you have a disability, impairment or sensory loss we want to make sure you can access and understand information, and receive any communication support you need.
We follow the guidance set out in the Accessible Information Standard.
You can find out more on our how would you like us to communicate with you? pages.
Interpreter
If you need a foreign language or sign language interpreter, please tell your GP. They will advise us when they refer you to our services and we will organise an interpreter for you. If you have not told your GP, please contact us directly at least 48 hours before your appointment on 01223 256998, or email the accessibility team. Often our interpreter services are provided by phone.
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System website (opens in a new tab) provides a toolkit with a range of patient leaflets, posters and videos in different languages to help raise awareness of local NHS services available.
Disabled access and support
Parking spaces for 'disabled (blue)' badge holders are located around our hospitals and are marked on the hospital map. There are access ramps at all the main entrances and disabled accessible toilet facilities. If you require help, please let the reception know how we can assist. We also have an accessible changing room in the main foyer of our Outpatients waiting area. The full list of our facilities is available on AccessAble (opens in a new tab).
If you let us know about a disability (e.g. a hearing difficulty), we can enter it on our computer system and this will alert our staff to your needs. We learn a lot from patients and carers, so don't be afraid to let us know how you want to be communicated with and what equipment you require to assist you during your stay in our hospitals.
For inpatients who have a physical disability, there is equipment on each ward to help support you. If possible, contact the ward in advance of your admission to let them know what equipment you need during your stay and we can arrange for it to be ready for you. You might prefer to bring your own equipment, and if you do, please label it clearly with your name and address.
Hearing impairments
There is a hearing loop system available in the main outpatient departments. We have personal listeners available too. If you require this service, let the clinic reception know when you arrive, or email the accessibility team.
All clinics and ward receptions have a copy of the sympathetic ear poster, which asks patients to alert ward and clinic staff if they have an hearing impairment. There are clear guidelines for our staff about how to communicate if you have an hearing impairment.
If an amplifier or communicator would help you, please ask our staff to make this available to you. Amplifiers and communicators are particularly useful to people who have a minor hearing loss. They are stored in red boxes at each clinic reception desk, the main reception at Addenbrooke's, the Rosie Hospital and the management offices at Fulbourn Hospital.
The audiology department is available to assist you with general enquiries about hearing aids and can supply replacement hearing aid batteries if required. If you need help with your hearing aid, or need to borrow a communicator during an inpatient stay, call the audiology department on 01223 217797.
All public payphones in our hospitals have a loop facility in the handset. The hospedia telephones on the wards have this facility too. Text telephones (minicoms) are available for use on wards - ask one of the team to get one for you. They are kept at the Addenbrooke's and Rosie Hospital receptions, and the management offices at Fulbourn Hospital.
If you need to use the Typetalk service with the minicom, we have a Typetalk account, which is 777 837. The contact number for Typetalk is 0800 515152 (hearing user), 0800 959598 (textphone user).
Visual impairments
In the central lift block to the C and D wards, all lifts speak their arrival at the floor.
The eye department can provide information and support for people who have a visual impairment. The Visual Impairment Information Provider can give advice about the benefits for the registered blind or partially sighted, and other support services that are available.
Talking books are available for patients to listen to during their stay in hospital. They can be obtained from:
- Eye department - 01223 586780 (extension 6780)
- Eye unit - 01223 274411 (extension 4411)
- Voluntary services - 01223 217356
All departments have signs that can be placed next to your bed to remind staff you have a sight impairment.
Learning disabilities
We advise all patients with learning disabilities to bring a carer or friend with them to their appointment. Our clinic team will also be able to support you.
You can call the learning disability specialist nurse on 01223 216133.
Adults with learning disability can also contact us on 07928 128664.
Paediatric learning disability and autism clinical nurse specialist
Patients and their families / carers are able to contact our autism clinical nurse specialist regarding any concerns around up coming appointments or to discuss any reasonable adjustments which may be needed in order to access healthcare provision for children and young people up until their 18th birthday.
Email the paediatric learning disability specialist nurse.
Healthcare passports
A healthcare passport is a document about you and your health needs. It also contains other useful information, such as your interests, likes, dislikes and preferred method of communication. Healthcare passports can be very useful if you have to go into hospital.