Accessible Outpatient and Emergency Departments

Reception

• The reception should be close to the entrance with minimal internal and external noise.
• Reception desks should be two tier type to serve both standing as well as in wheel chair patients.
• The lower part of the two tier desk should have adequate knee space under it forwheelchair users. Top of the table/counter should be at a height of 750mm to 800mmfrom floor. There should be 750mm wide and 480mm deepknee space under the table/deskfor a person in wheelchair.The top should be at a height of 950mm to 1100mm for a standing person.
• Those persons who cannot stand for long, should be provided chairs to sit even while enquiring at the reception counter.
• Availability of loop system at the reception counter is useful for hearing impaired persons to facilitate those with hearing aids.
• The light on the reception counter should come from front of the receptionist. This helps in lip reading of the receptionist.
• There should be at least reasonable space for wheelchair mobility and turning in almost all parts of the centre.
• A Communication request form for Persons with hearing disability should be provided to persons with hearing problems.

Waiting Area

Waiting area inan accessible health facility should have:

• Open areas for wheelchair and scooteruse
• Adequate seating with at least some seatswith and without folding armrests which are useful fortaking support in getting up from the chair
• The layout that allows wheelchair user to remain in wheelchair but next to his or her companion whois sitting on a seat. For that, an adjacent wheelchair space of 1100mm width should be provided next to that seat.
• Upright seats with seat width 600mm and height 400-500mm
• Good lighting
• Notices writtenin large good contrast print and on a clear matt surface to reduce the glare
• Dual height drinking water sources
• Remote operated TV
• A reachable magazine rack
• Public pay phoneswith TTY
• Visual alarms along with auditory alarms

Writing table or counter

• For a person on wheelchair there should be enough knee clearance and toe clearance spaces under the table or counter
• The space of 230mmheight above the finished floor surface is toe clearance and from 230mm to 800mm is called knee clearance space.
• The top of the table/counter should be between 750mm and 900mm high with knee space750mmwide and 480mm deep.

Payment counter

• For a person in wheelchair, there should be knee clearance and toe clearance space under the counter
• The top of the counter should be at 800 mm to 900 mm height from floor to provide adequate knee and toe clearance spacefor a person in wheelchair. Knee space should be 750mm wide and 480 mm deep.
• Content of written material should be effectively communicated to persons who can’t read the material.
• The currency notes or coins should be handed individually and counted.
• Facility of payment using mobile apps should be provided
• If payment is made by cards, the cards should be given in hand of the person and should not be left on the counter.

Washrooms

• The signs, symbols and pictograms for toilets are required to be at a height of 1500mm from floor.
• They should be in raised lines or figures that can be palpated or with Braille lettering.
• The door width should not be less than 900mm and the door should be opening with swing into the turning space in the toilet.

Source : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare