Travel to Ipswich Hospital

Please use the Hospital website for information about ways to travel to Ipswich Hospital by public, community and private transport.

Mentioned on the Hospital website is “Non-emergency patient transport” provided by E-ZEC. This is for patients whose physical or mental condition means that they are unable to travel in any other way and who require the skills of staff to support them during their journey. To check if this service is suitable for you and to make a booking, contact E-ZEC by telephone. Tel: 0300 999 6666

Connecting Communities is a transport service provided by Suffolk County Council designed to help people travel around the county of Suffolk who might not have access to a regular bus service and can be used to arrange transport to the Hospital. There is usually a charge for using these services.

 

Parking at Ipswich Hospital

Information on parking at Ipswich Hospital (including a map of the hospital to download) can be found at this link. In particular, please note three sections of the page:

  • “A message for blue badge holders” – blue badges should be registered at the Main Entrance to the hospital to ensure that they are not charged for parking (check the link for more information).

  • “Support for patients who claim benefits” - if you are a patient in receipts of certain benefits you can claim back parking charges and obtain a mileage allowance.

  • “Parking for people with cancer appointments” – parking is available free of charge for people attending the hospital for cancer treatment. Note that parking is not free if you are attending for any other purpose e.g. attending a clinic appointment.

As you look towards the hospital from the main entrance on Heath Road the Oncology Department is on the far right (north end) of the site - Entrance 15, just beyond Woodlands on the left and Hunnitots nursery on the right. By Entrance 15 you will find a drop-off zone and a limited number of parking spaces. The next nearest visitor parking is in Car Park B, the last car park on the right before the road turns left towards the Oncology Department.

 

If you are attending the hospital for cancer treatment, please park in the spaces outlined in yellow in car park K, which is on the right just before reaching the Hunnitots nursery. Look for the signs “Oncology Patients Only”. Please register your car registration with the reception in the Oncology Reception or the Radiotherapy Reception to ensure that you are not charged for parking.

 

 

Getting around within the hospital

A limited number of hospital wheelchairs are available at all entrances. If there are none available you can speak to the reception staff who will do their best to find you one or call a porter to bring one. At certain times, Meet and Greet volunteers are around the entrance areas to help guide you.

A Hospital Electric Buggy Service is available for those who have difficulty in walking and need to reach another part of the hospital. You can call direct to the volunteer driver of the buggy who can arrange to pick you up and take you to where you need to go. Dial 8603 from any internal Hospital phone that is in a corridor or ask at a reception desk for them to call 8603 for you. The service is available Monday to Thursday from 9 am -12 noon and from 1 pm - 4 pm

 

If you need help with the cost of travel

Information on help with travel costs for patients in receipt of certain benefits may be found on the Ipswich Hospital website this link. Please refer to the section “Support for patients who claim benefits”. If eligible, you may be able to claim back parking charges and get a mileage allowance.

Suffolk County Council offer several methods to help with travel costs if you have a disability or cannot access travel by bus. Details are available on the Suffolk Onboard Concessionary Travel webpage at this link: Disabled persons free travel bus pass or Travel Vouchers for people who cannot access bus services. Travel vouchers can be used in taxis or some community transport schemes. In both cases, eligibility criteria apply. Note that if you are eligible for travel vouchers, you will not be able to obtain a free travel bus pass.

Macmillan Cancer Support may be able to provide a Macmillan Grant to cover the costs of travelling to appointments if you are struggling financially (eligibility criteria apply). You can ask your health care professional, the Macmillan benefits team or the Cancer Support and Information Centre managers to complete the application form on your behalf.