It is a district general hospital with an urgent care centre (open 8am to 10pm, seven days a week), full range of diagnostic testing, 8 wards and outpatient clinics covering a range of specialties.
The car park is located close to the south entrance opposite the community garden.
Our approach to person-centred visiting
Person-centred visiting means we will work together with our patients, their loved ones, and our staff. We follow these principles:
- Welcoming – We welcome and encourage the involvement of the people who matter to our patients.
- Patient-led – We are guided by our patients. They can decide when the people who matter will visit and how they would like them involved in their care. We also note when they want to have some rest.
- Partnership – We work in partnership with the people who matter to our patients.
- Flexibility – Visiting hours are between 10am and 8pm. We are happy to be flexible if any visits need to take place outside of these hours.
- Respect – We respect people’s individual needs. We will act on an individual basis to ensure the safety, privacy, and dignity of all patients. This means there may be times when we need to ask people to leave a clinical area temporarily.
Approach
Our visiting hours are between 10am and 8pm daily.
We ask that there are no more than 2 visitors at a time. These visitors can change.
Please speak to the nurse in charge if you have any concerns.
For more information, see our visiting guidance here.
Wansbeck General Hospital is situated just off the A197, on the outskirts of Ashington.
By road
Address: Woodhorn Lane, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9JJ.
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 website 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
Charges
- 0-20mins = Free*
- 20mins-1 hour = £2
- 1-2 hours = £3
- 2-3 hours = £4
- 3-4 hours = £5
- 24 hours = £6
Please take a ticket to raise the barrier to gain entry to the car park. You will then use this ticket to pay at a pay station before leaving. The payment machines take coins and notes, as well as credit and debit cards.
* 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 electric vehicle charging points for use by 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.
We are proud to be part of the Active Hospitals programme. This means we encourage patients and staff to be physically active. If you feel able to, why not walk or cycle to your appointment? Not only will it improve your health, it also helps our planet. The maps below can help.
We have public bike storage areas at these sites:
- North Tyneside General Hospital - Diabetes Resource Centre entrance
- North Tyneside General Hospital - Alley to left of Urgent Treatment Centre entrance
- North Tyneside General Hospital - Right of main entrance doors
- Northumbria hospital, Cramlington - Between visitor car park and bus stop
Go Smarter, Go Active maps
PLEASE NOTE: Details in these maps are based on the latest information available at the time of publication. While every effort has been made by Transport North East to make sure they are correct, we cannot accept any liability resulting from omissions or inaccuracies.
There could be works or closures on particular routes. We advise that you check with the relevant local authority before setting off on your journey.
If you don't feel able to walk or cycle to your appointment, but would like a more sustainable way to travel, please consider using public transport. You can plan your journey here.
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
