Skip to content
left end
left end
right end

Facilities

Where to eat

There are a number of cafes and restaurants available across our hospitals. Further information can be found on the where to eat and drink page or on individual hospital websites. In addition, most of our hospitals are located within a couple of minutes walking distance to the city centre of Bristol, which has a wide range of eating facilities and options.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs can be accessed from the main entrances of each hospital site.

Public telephones

Public telephones are available in each of our hospital sites. Further information can be found on the individual hospital websites.

Taxis

A free phone taxi line is available in most of our hospitals for your convenience. Taxi ranks can also be found close to the Bristol Eye Hospital at the bottom of Lower Maudlin Street and by the bus station.

Post boxes

Staff at our hospital sites can provide you with details of where the most convenient external post box is located.

Wi-Fi and entertainment

Free patient Wi-Fi and patient entertainment is available at UHBW sites in Bristol and Weston. Patients and visitors can access the internet free of charge 24 hours a day.

To access the Wi-Fi, select the 'NHS Wi-Fi' network from your mobile, tablet or laptop. Accept the Terms and Conditions and click 'connect'. Patients and visitors accessing the Wi-Fi can use the service to find out information about the hospital, as well as use the internet more widely.

BRI Cashiers office

You can find the cashiers office on level 2 of the Queen's Building at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. They are open:

Monday to Wednesday  8.45 am until 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm until 4.15pm*.

Thursday and Friday 8.45 am until 4.15pm*.

The Cashiers is closed on public holidays.

*For current opening hours please call 0117 34 22286. The recorded message will inform you of any adjustments to the hours listed above.

One of the main duties of our cashiers office is pay for patients who are in receipt of certain benefits to travel to hospital. Find further information about whether you can claim your travel costs on here. Or please see travelling expenses section below.

The cashiers office covers all of the UH Bristol hospitals, there are facilities at South Bristol Community Hospital and Central Health Clinic. The opening times at South Bristol are 9.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. The opening times for Central Health Clinic are Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm.

If you have any queries please call BRI Cashiers on 0117 34 22286 or email BRICashier@uhbw.nhs.uk

Travelling expenses - patients who are in receipt of benefits

NHS Travel Costs - You can get help with necessary travel costs to receive NHS treatment through a referral by a doctor or dentist if you:

  • get or are included in an award of someone getting:
  • Income Support
  • Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance (Incapacity Benefit or Disability Living Allowance do not count as they are not income-related)
  • Income-Based Employment Support Allowance
  • are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
  • are named on a valid HC2 certificate (includes travel by your dependent children)
  • are a war pensioner and the treatment is for a disability that the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency accepts for treatment
  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

Find further information about whether you can claim your travel costs on here.

We will only be able to make payment if proof of benefit is supplied. This can be a letter from the Benefit Agency stating the benefit you are currently receiving and dated within the last twelve months and cover the date of your appointment. In the case of Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Persons Tax Credit the Exemption Certificate and Card must be produced.

If you are wishing to claim for a bus, train, ferry or coach journey a valid ticket must be shown to the cashier. For Patients travelling by train please ask the Guard at the ticket barrier not to retain your ticket. 

For current mileage allowances, please contact the cashiers office on 0117 342 2286.  If the patient is a child, the hospital will only reimburse for the patient and one adult escort (unless a letter is produced from a healthcare professional involved in the current episode of care, or from the patient's GP stating that two parents are required to escort the patient).

For adult patients who require an escort, cashiers will need to see a letter from a healthcare professional involved in the current episode of care, or from the patient's GP.

To help us serve you quicker when making a Travel Claim at the Cashiers please have the following ready for inspection:

  • Valid letter showing proof of qualifying Benefit you are receiving.
  • Bus / Rail Ticket or official receipt if you have used a Voluntary Driver or Community Transport.
  • Appointment Letter
  • Proof of ID ( Passport / Driving Licence / Utility Bill)

 If you have travelled by private car we will also need to know the following information:

  • Car Registration Number.
  • Engine Size
  • Fuel Type

PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT PAY FOR VISITING COSTS

For help with visiting costs, please contact your local benefit office or Job Centre Plus.

When the office is closed, you have three months in which to make a claim. You can also claim by post using form HC5 that can be obtained from the cashier's office, from your local benefit office or Job Centre Plus. Please include any bus, train or coach tickets, appointment cards or appointment letter with form HC5. For car users please also include your car registration and make of car.

Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme (H.T.C.S.) - Supplementary Information

HC5 Travel claim form

Banking/cash points

Unfortunately the hospital does not offer banking facilities. A cash point machine is however located on level 2 of the Queen's Building at Bristol Royal Infirmary. Natwest manage this cash machine, for queries please contact Natwest. For retained cards, please contact your own bank. External cash point machines are also available close to our hospital sites. Please ask staff for further information.

Public toilets

Public toilets are available at each hospital site. Our staff will be happy to provide further details for you.

Baby changing and feeding

Baby changing and feeding facilities are available at each hospital site. Our staff will be happy to provide further details for you.