In 2010, we launched a comprehensive review of car parking known as 'The Big Conversation', to find out how our car parks could be improved, while still keeping them safe, accessible and fair for the hundreds of thousands of people that use them each year.
And now, after 1,100 patients, visitors and staff have had their say, the Trust Board has agreed a number of significant changes that will take place over the coming year.
The changes include: stopping clamping and making sure patients and visitors are refunded for their parking if their appointment is delayed by more than an hour.
We have also agreed that parking charges for patients, visitors and staff will not increase over the next two financial years and we won't be charging on Bank Holidays. In addition, patients and visitors will be able to park without any charge for the first 20 minutes of their stay.
We are also creating more disabled parking spaces and allocating more free short-stay 'drop off' spaces to make parking as convenient as possible.
Other changes include:
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Improving the signs around the hospital to let people know about concessions available and that the first 20 minutes are free;
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All payment machines will be changed to accept credit and debit cards (as well as cash);
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Introducing a new 'barrier' system at Sutton Hospital (which is currently 'pay and display') will mean patients and visitors no longer have to guess how long they will need a space for;
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Redesigning the angles of some car park spaces to make them easier to use;
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Introducing discounts for people who drive electric, biofuel or dual fuel cars to help support our commitment to environmentally-friendly travel.
Unfortunately, we couldn't scrap charges altogether and we are unable to increase the number of car parking spaces at our hospitals. But we do hope that our patients, visitors and staff will agree that the changes we're making are substantial and prove that we've listened to their feedback.
To keep up-to-date with how our car parks are changing and for all of the latest information, simply keep an eye on this web page.
You can see the full list of all of the changes we have planned below:
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Stopping clamping of patients, visitors and staff;
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Freezing car parking fees for patients, visitors and staff for the next two financial years;
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Patients and visitors will be able to park free for the first 20 minutes of their stay;
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Patients will only pay the minimum charge (£2) if their appointment has been delayed for an hour or more - they will be refunded automatically;
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No charging on Bank Holidays for patients, visitors and staff, including Christmas and New Year;
-
Improving the signs around the hospital to let patients and visitors know about concessions available and that the first 20 minutes are free;
-
All payment machines will be changed to accept credit and debit cards (as well as cash);
-
Redesigning the angles of some car park spaces to make them easier to use;
-
Introducing a new 'barrier' system at Sutton Hospital (which is currently 'pay and display') will mean patients and visitors no longer have to guess how long they will need a space for;
-
Discounts for people who drive electric, biofuel or dualfuel cars to help support our commitment to environmentally-friendly travel;
-
Allocating more free short-stay 'drop off' spaces;
-
Introducing extra spaces for people with disabilities.
