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Staff are greata but MUST sort out the parking...

Story from nhs.uk

"Staff are greata but MUST sort out the parking..."

About: Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford)

Having moved to the East Devon area last year, and with a daughter who has Down Syndrome and is disabled, we have had to come to the hospital for various outpatient tests (the Eye Centre, Audiology and also a blood screening test.

The waiting areas at all 3 have been small and cramped, but I cannot fault the staff we have seen.

They have been kind, caring and helpful, as people have said from reception to Consultant. BUT, and this is a big but, every time we have come, my husband has had to drop us off at the entrance while he drives around looking for a parking space, despite we have a disabled badge, and because he has not been able to find one, he has missed all 3 appointments. This is not only extremely stressful but it has meant that our daughter has not had the support of us both for her appointments.

We have been to several other hospitals for her care and this one has been far the most frustrating and annoying when it comes to parking.

Not only is the designated visitors parking woefully small for such a big hospital, there seems to also be a real lack of disabled parking too as the spaces have always been full.

This needs to be sorted out ASAP because not only is it incredibly stressful but it also means that so many patients must be late for their appointments! We have never seen anything like it, and wonder why the people of East Devon put up with this. Can nothing be done?! This situation is just unacceptable and just telling people to come early on the appointment letter is simply not good enough. What , if anything can be done about this?

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Responses

Response from Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford) 6 years ago
Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford)

Submitted on 06/06/2019 at 13:12
Published on nhs.uk at 14:07

Thank you for your email regarding your experience whilst visiting the hospital and I am sorry that the initial part of your visit did not meet your expectations resulting in your husband missing the opportunity to attend your daughter’s appointments on three occasions.

At the Wonford Hospital site there are seven hundred pay and display spaces for patients and visitors with fifty six spaces for blue badge holders to park.

Blue badge holders are also able to park, free of charge, in any pay and display space when displaying their blue badge on the dashboard.

Currently we are experiencing a reduction in some parking spaces due to large building works that are taking place to improve healthcare for patients with the installation of new medical equipment.

We are aware that parking has become more difficult at the Wonford site especially since the local Council brought in residents only parking in early 2018 in the local areas surrounding the hospital.

A review has taken place and recommendations put forward to improve the parking on site potentially with a double layer car park on the existing main car park creating an extra five hundred spaces.

Also changes have taken place to the Trust’s Digby Park & Ride in recent weeks.

The Trust has worked with Devon County Council and gained approval from them for this to become a staff only park and ride car park and we have implemented a second park and ride service from Sowton for patients and visitors.

We do realise that this facility is not suitable for all but hopefully it will work towards encouraging those who can use it to use this sustainable mode of transport helping to improve the numbers of cars accessing the hospital site.

We meet regularly with Devon County Council to discuss further travel options for the Trust and they are aware of the problems patients, visitors and staff are experiencing at both the Wonford and Heavitree Hospital sites.

I hope the information above explains how we are looking at all options to improve travel to and from the Wonford and Heavitree Hospital sites.

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