3 March 2011
Car parking arrangements at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals are to be revolutionised, after 1,100 patients, visitors and staff had their say.
Last year, the Trust launched a comprehensive review of car parking known as 'The Big Conversation', to find out how its 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.
Now all of the responses have been collected and each individual comment has been recorded, the Trust Board has agreed significant changes will be made over the coming months.
Matthew Hopkins is the Trust's Chief Executive. He said: "Following the feedback we have received from our patients, visitors and staff, we are making big changes to the way our car parks are run, including stopping clamping and making sure patients and visitors are refunded for their parking if their appointment is delayed by more than an hour.
"Importantly, with the financial climate as it is, 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.
Matthew added: "Unfortunately, we couldn't scrap charges altogether and we are unable to increase the number of car parking spaces at our hospitals. However, I hope our patients, visitors and staff will agree that the changes we're making are substantial and prove that we've listened to their feedback."
