If you or a loved one has an appointment, a planned procedure or an unexpected emergency, knowing the essentials about Wexham Park Hospital in advance can take a great deal of stress out of the day. This large NHS hospital sits just north of Slough in Berkshire and serves communities across Slough, Windsor, Maidenhead and the surrounding areas with everything from a round-the-clock emergency department to maternity and specialist clinics. In this guide you will find the address and contact details, how to get there, what services are available, current visiting guidance, parking information and the facilities you can expect on site.
One important note before we start: hospitals update their rules — especially around visiting — more often than most people expect, so treat this guide as a thorough starting point and always confirm time-sensitive details with the ward or the hospital switchboard before you travel. The hospital’s switchboard number is 0300 614 5000, and the official Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust website carries the latest department-level information. With that said, here is everything a patient or visitor needs to know, gathered in one place.
Where the Hospital Is
Wexham Park Hospital stands on Wexham Street in Wexham, Slough, Berkshire, with the postcode SL2 4HL — roughly two miles north of Slough town centre, near the junction of Wexham Street with Church Lane and Wexham Park Lane. It is one of the main hospitals run by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, which has managed it since 2014, and it serves a large, diverse population across east Berkshire and south Buckinghamshire. If you are using satellite navigation, entering the full postcode will bring you to the main site; the hospital is well signposted from the surrounding roads, and the main entrance leads to a central reception area with a main corridor running through the building.
For anyone unfamiliar with the area, Slough itself is well connected: it sits just west of London, close to the M4 motorway and the M25, with Slough railway station on the Great Western main line offering fast links to London Paddington. That connectivity matters because Wexham Park draws patients from well beyond Slough itself, including Windsor, Maidenhead, Langley, Iver and Gerrards Cross. If you are travelling from further afield, it is worth planning your route in advance and allowing extra time — hospital car parks and surrounding roads are busiest on weekday mornings, when outpatient clinics are in full swing.
Getting There: Transport and Parking
By car, the hospital is straightforward to reach from the M4 and the local A-road network, and on-site car parking is available, including designated disabled parking bays close to the main entrance. Parking at NHS hospitals is in high demand, so arrive early for morning appointments and have a payment method ready, as charges and machines vary. By public transport, local bus services connect Slough town centre and the railway station with the hospital area — check current routes and timetables before you travel, since bus services change periodically. Taxis and hospital transport services are also widely used by patients attending regular follow-up appointments.
If walking or cycling is an option, the hospital provides cycle parking, and the surrounding area is largely flat and straightforward to navigate. Whatever your mode of transport, build in a buffer: finding the right department inside a large hospital takes longer than most first-time visitors expect, and arriving flustered helps nobody. The main reception staff can point you toward any ward or clinic, and departmental signage from the main corridor is generally clear. Keep the switchboard number — 0300 614 5000 — saved in your phone in case you need directions on the day.
Emergency Care: The Accident and Emergency Department
Wexham Park Hospital operates a full accident and emergency department around the clock, handling medical emergencies, trauma and urgent cases for the local population. If you face a life-threatening emergency, the rule is the same everywhere in England: call 999 immediately rather than driving yourself. For urgent but not life-threatening problems, NHS 111 — by phone or online — can direct you to the right service, which may be an urgent treatment centre, a GP out-of-hours service or the emergency department itself. Choosing the right route matters: emergency departments prioritise by clinical need, so a well-directed visit usually means faster, more appropriate care.
A practical note for anyone heading to A&E: visiting arrangements in emergency departments are typically more restricted than on inpatient wards, and during busy periods you may be asked to wait outside or limit companions to one person. Bring essentials — identification, a list of current medications, your NHS number if you know it, and a phone charger — because waits can be long at peak times. Children brought to the paediatric emergency area may be accompanied by a parent or guardian. As with everything in this guide, if you are unsure whether your situation counts as an emergency, NHS 111 is the safest first call.
Maternity Services
Wexham Park has a well-established maternity unit providing the full journey from antenatal care through labour and birth to postnatal support, including neonatal care for babies who need extra help after delivery. Antenatal clinics monitor mother and baby through pregnancy, and the labour ward supports births with midwifery and obstetric teams on hand around the clock. If you are choosing where to have your baby in the Slough area, the trust’s maternity pages outline birth options and how to self-refer — and, as ever, your GP or midwife can talk through what suits your individual circumstances best.
One thing to know in advance: maternity visiting arrangements usually differ from the general ward guidance, with specific policies for birth partners and visiting on antenatal and postnatal wards. These policies can change, so check the trust’s current maternity information before the big day rather than relying on word of mouth. Partners are generally supported to be present for labour, and the unit’s staff can explain exactly what to expect, what to bring, and where to go when labour begins — including out-of-hours access arrangements.
Other Departments and Services
Beyond emergency and maternity care, the hospital provides the broad range of services you would expect from a large district general hospital: general surgery, orthopaedics, diagnostics including imaging and pathology, outpatient clinics across many specialties, and dedicated paediatric services for children. Specialist clinics run throughout the week, and many patients first encounter the hospital through a GP referral to one of these outpatient departments. If you have been referred, your appointment letter is the single most important document you will receive — it confirms the department, the location within the hospital, the date and time, and anything you need to do beforehand, such as fasting for a blood test.
The on-site pharmacy dispenses prescriptions for outpatients as well as supporting inpatient wards, which saves a separate trip to a high-street chemist after your appointment. Diagnostic services such as X-ray, ultrasound and blood tests are also on site, meaning most of the steps in a typical referral — consultation, test, results — can happen under one roof. Waiting times vary by specialty and by season, and the trust publishes current performance information for those who want to check. If your condition changes while you are waiting for an appointment, contact your GP rather than simply waiting in silence.
Visiting Hours and Ward Rules
For most inpatient wards, Wexham Park Hospital publishes general visiting hours of 9am to 9pm — but that headline comes with important exceptions, so read on before setting off. Maternity, intensive care and the emergency department all operate their own arrangements, and individual wards can adjust visiting around mealtimes, ward rounds, rest periods and infection-control needs. The golden rule is simple: if the visit matters — a long journey, a frail relative, a child — telephone the ward in advance to confirm the best time. Staff would far rather answer a quick call than watch a visitor arrive at an impossible moment, and a two-minute check can save a wasted trip.
A few courtesies make visiting better for everyone. Keep groups small and visits reasonably short, especially in bays shared with other patients who may be resting or receiving care. Do not visit if you feel unwell yourself — even a mild cold can be dangerous for vulnerable patients — and follow any hand-hygiene guidance at the ward entrance. Many wards welcome you bringing small comforts, but check before bringing food, flowers or strong-smelling items, as some patients have dietary restrictions or sensitivities. And remember that staff can ask visitors to step out briefly during clinical care; it is never personal, and cooperation keeps the ward running smoothly.
Facilities for Patients and Visitors
A hospital visit is easier when you know what is on site. Wexham Park has a café for hot drinks and meals, a shop for essentials, and the pharmacy already mentioned — small mercies that matter during a long day. There is an on-site chapel on the main corridor behind the main entrance reception, along with a prayer area, reflecting the diverse community the hospital serves. Patient library services, internet access and public telephones are available, and mobile phones are generally permitted, though you may be asked to switch them to silent in clinical areas. Family accommodation can be arranged in certain circumstances — ask the ward staff if you need to stay close.
For parents, it is worth knowing the practical detail that dedicated ‘bringing children to hospital’ facilities are limited, so plan childcare where you can rather than assuming play areas will be available. Single-sex accommodation is standard across wards, in line with NHS policy. And if the day involves a long wait — clinics do run late sometimes — the café and shop mean you will not go hungry. These details sound minor until you are the person living through a six-hour hospital day, at which point a decent cup of tea genuinely counts as healthcare infrastructure.
Accessibility
The hospital is set up for step-free access throughout, with wheelchair access, disabled parking bays and disabled toilets available. Communication support includes an induction loop for hearing-aid users, a signing service, and a braille translation service — practical provisions that make a real difference to patients who need them. If you have specific access requirements, mentioning them when your appointment is booked (or calling ahead as a visitor) gives staff the chance to prepare, whether that means arranging an interpreter, a longer appointment slot or simply making sure you are seen in the most suitable clinic room.
It is also worth saying that accessibility is not only about the building. If anxiety, language barriers or unfamiliarity with the NHS system are part of what makes a hospital visit daunting, you are entitled to ask for help — a companion at appointments, written information in plain language, or extra time with the clinician. Nobody at the hospital will think less of you for asking. The best hospital visits are the ones where patients arrive informed and supported, and a short phone call in advance is often all it takes to arrange it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wexham Park Hospital? The hospital is on Wexham Street in Wexham, Slough, Berkshire, with the postcode SL2 4HL — about two miles north of Slough town centre. It is run by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, which has managed the hospital since 2014. The site is well signposted from surrounding roads, and entering the full postcode into satellite navigation will bring you to the main entrance and reception area. If you are coming by train, Slough station on the Great Western main line is the nearest major station, with taxis and buses completing the journey.
What is the hospital’s phone number? The main hospital switchboard number is 0300 614 5000. Use it for general enquiries, directions and departmental queries — though for ward-specific questions, such as visiting times for a particular patient, asking to be put through to the ward directly usually gets you the most accurate answer. For medical advice rather than hospital logistics, NHS 111 remains the right first port of call. Save the number in your phone before you travel so it is there if you need directions or are running late for an appointment.
Does Wexham Park Hospital have an accident and emergency department? Yes — the hospital operates a full A&E department around the clock for medical emergencies, trauma and urgent cases. In a life-threatening emergency, always call 999 rather than making your own way there. For urgent problems that are not life-threatening, contact NHS 111 first by phone or online; they will direct you to the most appropriate service, which may be the emergency department or an alternative such as an urgent treatment centre.
What are the visiting hours at Wexham Park Hospital? General visiting hours for inpatient wards are published as 9am to 9pm, but maternity, intensive care and the emergency department follow their own arrangements, and individual wards may adjust times around care needs. Because rules can change, the safest approach is to telephone the ward before travelling — especially for long journeys or visits to vulnerable patients. Do not visit if you feel unwell, and follow hand-hygiene guidance at the ward entrance.
Is there parking at the hospital? Yes — on-site car parking is available, including designated disabled parking bays near the main entrance, and cycle parking is also provided. As with most NHS hospitals, parking is in high demand on weekday mornings when clinics are busiest, so allow extra time and have a payment method ready. If you are attending regularly, ask staff about any arrangements for frequent visitors, and consider public transport or hospital transport services where available. Details can change, so check the trust website for the latest parking information before you travel.
Conclusion
Wexham Park Hospital is, in the end, exactly what a good district general hospital should be: large enough to offer comprehensive care — from 24-hour emergency services to maternity, surgery and diagnostics — yet local enough that most patients in Slough and the surrounding towns can reach it without a major expedition. The essentials are simple to remember: Wexham Street, Slough SL2 4HL; switchboard 0300 614 5000; general visiting 9am to 9pm with ward-level exceptions. Keep those three facts, confirm the details that matter for your visit, and the hospital will do the rest.
If you take one piece of advice from this guide, make it this: call ahead. A two-minute conversation with the ward or department can confirm visiting times, tell you exactly which entrance to use, and flag anything you should bring — turning a potentially stressful day into a straightforward one. Hospitals are at their best when patients and visitors arrive prepared, and nowhere is that truer than at a busy, much-loved local hospital serving hundreds of thousands of people. Plan the journey, pack the essentials, and leave the medical part to the professionals.
