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Care Opinion

Disabled Car parking

Posted By Verypatient

"Disabled Car parking"

About: Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre

(as the patient),

This is about the disabled spaces at or near the Beatson oncology centre. As someone who was arriving at the hospital early, there were a large number of these spaces being taken up by staff ( I did see them in uniform) parking their cars in signposted spaces for blue badge holders and at the disabled drop off point on the road towards the Beatson main entrance. A friend who was driving me to the hospital managed to have a closer look at these cars and they were not displaying a blue badge. Furthermore the same cars were there most days and there was no parking attendant in this area stopping people parking there who shouldn’t have been. 

The parking near the main entrance to the Beatson is quite a bit from the door and for someone who’s mobility is impaired these spaces would have been preferred.  It would seem from talking to some staff that this area is always full from very early on and it is staff members who are parking there. The phrase be careful what you wish for springs to mind. What exactly are you doing to ensure disabled spaces are available to those who are entitled to use them. 

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 08/11/2018 at 11:49
Published on Care Opinion at 14:01

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Very Patient

Thank you for getting in touch.

I am sorry to hear about the difficulties you experienced with car parking at the Beatson. Car parking is a significant challenge at most of our hospital sites and I appreciate how frustrating this is for our patients and visitors. I am disappointed that you have witnessed staff parking in the disabled spaces without blue badges.

I will share your post with my colleagues in Facilities who are responsible for car parking and ask that they respond to the issues you have raised.

Kind Regards

Nicole

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Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 5 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 13/11/2018 at 10:18
Published on Care Opinion at 12:03

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Very Patient

I’m sorry you experienced difficulty parking at Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.

We understand the importance of preserving access to these bays at the Beatson Centre so badge holders can get to their appointments without unnecessary hassle or additional stress. Misuse is taken seriously, (including by NHS staff), so spaces are monitored regularly by Car Parking Attendants, who issue Unauthorised Parking Notices if no badge is displayed. While we continue to stress misuse is unacceptable, our own monitoring indicates there is not a significant continuing problem. Please be assured though, there is no complacency about that, and we remain vigilant in preventing, and sanctioning, this unacceptable behaviour.

Regarding the drop off spaces - they are not specifically identified for Blue Badge holders, the primary purpose being to allow patients to be dropped-off and accompanied to appointments without experiencing discomfort, walking an unnecessary distance, or exposed to bad weather. However, it won't be unusual to see NHS staff use the areas to drop off patients, or for other important purposes, e.g. drop-off pick-up of urgent packages such as blood or medical records. These spaces are also monitored for inappropriate use and sanctions are applied there too where appropriate.

If you or your friend have any difficulty accessing a bay in the future accessing please contact a Car Parking Attendant (identifiable in high visibility jackets) and they will find a bay or make an individual arrangement for you to get to your appointment. If the Car Parking Attendants are not immediately available, signs in the car parks at the Tom Wheldon Building (Beatson Centre) and at the front of Gartnavel General Hospital give CP Plus contact details (telephone: 07966037076 and 07970236506) if assistance is required between 8am - 4 pm Monday - Friday.

Regards

Gerry McCool

Facilities Department

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