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Car Parking

Posted By fightingforchange

"Car Parking"

About: St John's Hospital

(as a parent/guardian),

Just read item regarding pregnant visitor unable to get parking space & your response.

I had a relative in St John’s for 19 months. During this time you implemented the change in your car parking policy - it doesn’t work!! Car park P, which you state is a patient/visitor car park now, absolutely is not. 

If I have had an 11am ish meeting regarding my relative, I  had to leave home extra early ( don’t live in the immediate area) to get to the hospital for the barrier opening at 8am in Car Park P. By 08:30, the car park is full & remains so until late afternoon, with cars “abandoned “ on double yellows & at the end of rows, subsequently blocking other vehicles. It is not filled with patient/visitors as I have been able to identify, whilst sitting in my car, many members of staff. I have spent the whole day at the hospital in far too many occasions & this parking issue is always the same. The only time there was no issue with parking was weekends.

I discussed this with staff at the ?porter hub on entering the hospital. They stated they were aware of the situation, but, very little they could do if they were unaware of registration plate & not being on the system.

It’s not good enough, as some patients/carers/visitors travel a good distance to get to St John’s & then have the added stress of finding a parking space. I have actually used public transport on occasions ( 4 hour round trip) when a meeting was scheduled for 1pm as I knew I had absolutely no chance of parking.

Changing your policy is all well & good, but, not just for a tick box exercise, it needs to work practically & fast.

Simply not a good enough service.

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Responses

Response from Jeannette Morrison, Head of Patient Experience, NHS Lothian 5 years ago
We have made a change
Jeannette Morrison
Head of Patient Experience,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 16/01/2019 at 17:30
Published on Care Opinion on 17/01/2019 at 09:06

Dear fightingforchange

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us following your difficulties with the car parking arrangements at St John's when you were visiting your relative. Please accept my apologies for the delay with my response but l have been liaising with team and they have helped with my response.

St John’s Traffic Management Group understand the frustrations being felt by patients and visitors attending the St John’s site due to the lack of available parking and in December 2018 they took action.

On Monday 3rd December 2018 the first change took place whereby the barrier to Car Park P was closed at 5.30am and manned by two of the Car Parking Attendants. Patients, visitors and staff with permits for Car Park P were allowed access and all other staff was turned away. The barrier is opened when the Car Parking Team see the traffic coming onto site backing up as this could have an impact on the blue light route into the hospital and also on the surrounding roads. This first phase was very successful and improved the situation for this attending the site.

On Monday the 7th January 2019 the second phase of managing Car Park P was put in place. When the barrier is lifted two members of the car parking team make their way to the west end of Car Park P where we stop the vehicle and ask them if they are a patient, visitor or staff member. Staff members are directed out of Car Park P via a temporary exit. The car parking team remain in this area until approximately 10am.

The results of these changes are proving to be very positive in that there are spaces readily available for patients and visitors attending the site. The Car Park does become full in the afternoon when visiting is taking place however the Car Park is a much safer area for drivers and pedestrians alike.

Thank you again for your feedback and I do hope that when you next visit the hospital you will find it to be a much more positive experience and the Traffic Management Team will endeavour to ensure that there is always available parking on site for patients and visitors.

Kind regards

Jeannette

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