It is a district general hospital with an urgent care centre (open 8am to 10pm seven days a week), full range of diagnostic testing, 12 wards and outpatient clinics covering a range of specialties.
The car park is located close to the south entrance opposite the community garden.
Visitor guidance
The health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities and staff remain our overall priority. We will keep visiting arrangements under regular review to support this.
Emergency Department (ED) and Urgent Treatment Centres
One relative or friend can accompany each patient.
Adult inpatient wards (except for elective orthopaedics)
Visiting is between the hours of 10am and 8pm.
Please help us keep everyone as safe as possible:
- If you can, please book before visiting by contacting the ward.
- Protected mealtimes are in place on all wards. This is so patients have a dedicated mealtime, free from interruptions. Relatives helping with feeding can be an exception. Please arrange this with the ward manager/nurse in charge.
- Only two visitors can be at a bedside at any one time. Exceptions are at the discretion of the ward manager / nurse in charge. This would include patients having end-of-life care. Another example is patients with carers who help them with everyday activities. All visiting requirements are considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Each ward has a maximum number of visiting slots available each hour. This is in line with safe hospital ventilation standards.
If you would like children under 10 to visit, please talk to the ward manager / nurse in charge.
Our staff may refuse entry to visitors or manage visitor numbers. This could happen if an area becomes overcrowded. Wards may introduce specific and enhanced infection prevention measures.
Visiting people with mental health conditions, dementia and/or delirium, learning disabilities and/or autism
We will continue to make reasonable adjustments, so people can stay in touch with their loved ones.
Elective orthopaedics
Special visiting arrangements are in place for elective orthopaedic wards. Please discuss with the admitting team.
Guidance for all visitors
Wash or gel your hands when entering and leaving our hospitals. Do the same when entering and leaving wards, bays or side rooms.
Please do not visit if you have been unwell or have signs of a cough or cold. Wait for 48 hours after diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms before visiting. If you are unsure, please contact us to see if it is safe for you to visit.
Please do not bring in food for patients. If not possible, staff will advise on how to store and dispose of food.
You may need to leave a bedside or ward if staff ask you to. We would ask that you are respectful of other patients during your visit.
To help prevent infections, please do not sit on the bed during visits. Please do not touch equipment.
We welcome service dogs that support a visitor to attend.
Wansbeck General Hospital is situated just off the A197, on the outskirts of Ashington.
By road
From the A189 Spine Road. Exit the Woodhorn Roundabout signposted Ashington. At the next Roundabout take the first exit, continue along pass Barley Rise and you will arrive at the Hospital.
By bus
For up to date bus information, please use the Traveline service
By rail
There is no train station at Ashington. The closest mainline station is Morpeth, which is six miles away. Check The Trainline for timetables of all services.
Dedicated car service
If you are a relative visiting from Berwick, we have a dedicated free daily car service to and from Wansbeck General Hospital which arrives for visiting times. To book call 01289 356664 or 07774 788627.
The car park is located close to the south entrance opposite the community garden.
Charges
- 0-20mins = Free*
- 20mins-1 hour = £2
- 1-2 hours = £3
- 2-3 hours = £4
- 3-4 hours = £5
- 24 hours = £6
As it is pay and display, please make sure that you bring change with you and leave plenty of time to find a space.
There are free lay-bys for pick ups or drops offs or for those picking up a prescription at the pharmacy (maximum stay 20 minutes).
Disabled parking
There are a number of designated free parking bays reserved for disabled drivers displaying a valid blue badge permit.
Concessionary car parking
We offer free car parking under certain circumstances for patients or their visitors. This includes those patients attending regularly over an extended period, visitors of long-stay patients and those who are staying in the hospital with patients. This list is not exhaustive and exemptions are issued by the ward or department manager - please speak to them if you think you may qualify.
Electric vehicle charging
This hospital has an electric vehicle charging point which is free to use for patients and visitors.
Car parking violations
Please note that failure to park in a designated bay or failure to pay for parking may result in you being issued with a civil penalty or infringement notice.
Cafés and restaurants
The hospital has a coffee shop at the main entrance run by our Northumbria Volunteer Service (NVS).
There is a restaurant upstairs where you get hot and cold food and refreshments and another coffee shop, cafe central by the south entrance near to maternity.
Opening times are as follows:
Restaurant
- Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm
- Saturday and Sunday 9am-3pm
Main entrance cafe/shop
- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9am-7pm
- Tuesday and Friday: 9am-4pm
- Saturday 12midday-4pm
Café central
- Monday to Friday 8am-4pm
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is available in this hospital – just choose NHS Wi-Fi on your smart device and follow the registration process to gain access.
Download our internal map here
