Getting to Kettering General Hospital Main Site

Important information: Visiting arrangements on our adult inpatient wards - updated 27.01.2023

From Friday 27 January visiting arrangements on our adult inpatient wards are been revised. 
 
Following a review of our infection prevention and control guidance, we are now allowing two visitors to visit their loved ones at the bedside for up to two hours per day.
 
In order to maintain patient and public / visitor safety; visiting will be subject to the ward not having any active cases of infections that could be passed on. This local guidance could change at any time at short notice.
 
This change is as a result of us continually monitoring infection rates in the hospital and locally.
 
Patients attending outpatient appointments can bring one adult to accompany them, however we would ask patients who are able to attend alone, to please do so.
 
Visitors and staff must continue with mask wearing and infection control guidance.
 
The hospitals’ infection prevention and control guidance to the public includes:
  • Anyone showing any symptoms of COVID-19 or feeling otherwise unwell must not visit.
  • Do not visit if a member of your household has tested positive for COVID-19 or flu
  • Visitors, parents, guardians, siblings will be asked to wear a surgical facemask to visit our wards – including the Emergency Department
  • Symptom /wellness checks will be completed on arrival in our wards
  • Please continue to wash your hands regularly before, during, and after, attending hospital and follow staff instructions relevant to the area being attended.
 
Other actions local people can take to support their hospitals at this difficult time include:
  • Please continue to wash your hands regularly before, during, and after, attending hospital and follow staff instructions relevant to the area being attended.
  • Only going to A&E where this is absolutely necessary and using alternatives such as GP telephone appointments, pharmacies, Corby Urgent Care Centre or NHS 111.
  • Don’t unnecessarily accompany someone to hospital unless your presence is vital for their safety. We have limited socially distanced waiting facilities and cannot allow these to become unnecessarily crowded
  • Please attend your appointments on time – but not too much before time. If you arrive too early, you will be making waiting areas more crowded than they need to be.

Rothwell Road, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8UZ

Telephone number: 01536 492001

The Trust provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient services at the Rothwell Road site in Kettering.

The hospital has three public entrances: two for car access and one for pedestrians only.

Entrance 1 is at the top of the hill on Rothwell Road leading down to entrance 4 just before the railway bridge.

Remember smoking is not allowed anywhere, on any KGH sites.

Patient Buggy Service

The KGH Patient Buggy Service is relaunching from Thursday 26th January 2023, initially as a reduced service trial. 
 
The Buggy (similar to an electric golf cart) enables less able patients to be driven to and from the hospital from all car parks and entrances located around the hospital site. The Buggy Service is free to use and is run by a team of trained volunteer buggy drivers. 
 
The Patient Buggy Service trial will launch with reduced operating days, before building to Monday to Friday morning and afternoons, excluding bank holidays. 
 
To arrange pick up call: 07976 198127
  • Please state the pick-up point location, destination and number of passengers (max 2) when calling
  • This service cannot transport wheelchairs and can only take passengers able to step on to the buggy unaided
  • Please note that this service is subject to volunteer availability (when unavailable a voicemail message plays)
  • The service cannot carry children under the age of 12
 

The Patient Buggy Service is funded through the Kettering General Hospital charitable funds and individual voluntary donations. Any donations are gratefully received towards the upkeep of the service. A small donation box is provided on board the vehicle.
 
To volunteer with the Buggy Service or for further information please call the Volunteer Services team on 01536 491589 / 1599 / 1162 (please leave voicemail if no reply). 

Travelling by car

Leave A14 at Junction 7
 
Head towards Kettering Town Centre (right hand lane leaving A14)
 
Pass crematorium on left.
 
To Entrance 1 – At Telford Way/Rothwell Road roundabout take right hand turn into hospital, past Ambulance Station to car parks.
 
To Entrance 4 - Go straight over the roundabout on to Rothwell Road and take the fifth turning on your right just before the railway bridge.
 
 

Travelling by rail

Kettering Railway Station is on the East Midlands Railway Line (St. Pancras - Sheffield). The station is approximately 1 mile from the Hospital (follow road signs to General Hospital) and is approximately 20 minutes walk. Taxis are available from the station forecourt. For general information or ticket bookings telephone East Midlands Trains 08457 125678. Lines open daily 6am-10pm. If you have hearing difficulties please use TextDirect: 18001 followed by 08457 125 678 or visit www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk.
 
For further information on the public transport available in Northamptonshire visit the Northamptonshire Councils
 
Please check with Stagecoach for exact bus times. https://www.stagecoachbus.com/

Travelling by local public transport

Buses stop directly outside the Hospital:

For Stagecoach buses away from Kettering town centre

For Stagecoach buses towards Kettering town centre

For a specific bus time or journey call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables/.

Voluntary Transport Schemes

Providers of voluntary transport schemes can be contacted directly by patients to provide door to door transport services (subject to registration with the service).  A list of providers is shown below.
Corby Car Pool
Monday to Friday 9.00am - 12noon (Journeys are available out of hours)
Telephone: 01536 269482
Shire Community Services - Covering Kettering and Wellingborough
Monday to Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm
Telephone: 01933 272735 & 01933 276933
Rushden (SERVE)
Telephone: 01933 315555
Northampton Volunteer Car Scheme
Monday – Friday 9.00am - 12 noon, an answerphone operates out of hours
Telephone: 01604 637522
Volunteer Action Oundle
Monday to Friday 9.30am - 12.30pm
Telephone: 01832 275433
Voluntary Action South Leicestershire - Covering South Leicestershire including Market Harborough
Monday to Friday 9.00am - 2.30pm
Telephone: 01858 433232
Website: www.vasl.org.uk
Daventry Area Community Transport  
Telephone: 01327 701665 & 01327 701666
 
Please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) (01536) 493305 for other voluntary schemes which may be available in your area.

Reclaiming the cost of your journey

You may be eligible for reimbursement of your travel expenses under the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) if you are in receipt of at least one of the following:
  • Income Support
  • Employment Support Allowance  (Income related not contributory related)
  • Working Family Tax Credit or Child Tax Credits
  • Exemption certificate (HC2/HC3 form) the patient must be named on form
  • Job Seekers Allowance (Income based)
  • Disabled persons tax credit
  • Pension Credit guaranteed
  • Universal Credit (Earnings guidelines £435* or less, £935* per couple visit  www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/)
Public Transport Costs 
Bus fares and train fares are fully reimbursed when a valid receipt is produced.
Voluntary Transport Schemes
Travel costs incurred through certain voluntary transport schemes are refundable when a valid receipt is produced.  
 
Please contact the Cashiers Office (01536) 492036 should you require further clarification.
For reimbursement payment to be made, you will need:-
  • Proof of receiving a benefit (as listed above and dated within the last 12 months).
  • Appointment letter/internal form or appointment card, which must be stamped by the department stating the date visited together with an authorised signature. 
  • Travel ticket/receipt and/or car parking ticket.
Taxi Costs
Taxi fares are not reimbursed.