Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

No 24 hour car park near very large Inner City hospital.

34 replies

FunCrab · 18/06/2026 20:47

I attended accident and emergency with my partner recently. I drove to the A&E because the previous week we were told we would need to wait 11 hours for an ambulance. I arrived at the car park which was signed posted from the hospital at 5 pm. My partner was not seen in A&E until 1 am, Eight hours later.
Following that we returned to the car park to collect the car to go home to find out the car park was locked from 10 pm until 6 am. I asked about getting the car out and was towed. It would cost £100 to get somebody to unlock the car park for us to collect the car.
The previous week when I had drove to the same hospital with my partner to a A&E he was admitted and I could have been going to this car park on my own which is down a side street. We need to wait on a taxi at 1 am and I needed to return to the car park just after 6 am to collect the car.
When I looked at this car park again there were signs to say the car park was closed between 10 pm and 6 am, however when one is bringing their partner to A&E, how many people look for signs that the car park is not open all night and if I had noticed this was I supposed to come and get the car out at 10 pm and park elsewhere which may be very unsafe for me to do as a woman.
The nearest 24 hour car park to this particular hospital is 15 minutes walk away.
Am I being unreasonable to expect a large city centre hospital with an ANE department to have a 24 hour car park?
I am being unreasonable to expect a large city Centre hospital with an ANA department to have a 24 hour car park.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
FunCrab · 19/06/2026 20:26

HumberSquid · 18/06/2026 23:00

And so?

Not sure what your point is here!

OP posts:
FunCrab · 19/06/2026 09:11

ThisOliveKoala · 19/06/2026 02:26

I was thinking this…and OP also said “they thought he had sepsis”. He either had sepsis or he didn’t. I’ve had sepsis and not only was it probably the worst pain I have ever been in but they told me I had sepsis.

£100 fine is a lot though, ultimately I think the majority of A&E visits one should drop off and find appropriate parking or get a taxi.

Posts like to compare to healthcare in other countries, we are a small island, with so many people. Let’s try & be fair to the NHS.

Thanks for this response and for taking the time to put this view on.
He collapsed in the car and I was told it would be 11 hours for an ambulance. I was told just drive him there which I did.
It was identified by his inflammation markers that he was likely to get sepsis and yes he was in a lot of pain even when I was driving across bumps in the road.
I did not feel minded to leave him so parked the car in what is labelled hospital car park assuming it was 24 hours ( perhaps on reflection I was wrong to assume).
Two days out of hospital the same again and I had again assumed the car park was 24 hours.
I am very grateful for people taking the time to post here it is giving me new perspectives.

OP posts:
BillieWiper · 19/06/2026 09:08

FKAT · 18/06/2026 21:24

Am I being unreasonable to expect a large city centre hospital with an ANE department to have a 24 hour car park?

I live in north London and can't think of any hospitals with A&E that have any car parking for patients, never mind 24 hours.

Yeah I was gonna say that. They're not that common. The only hospital I've been to that seemed to have any kind of carpark was Finchley. I think royal free has one as well but it's tiny.

ThisOliveKoala · 19/06/2026 02:26

aliceyyyy2654 · 18/06/2026 23:01

Will probably get flamed for saying this but if your ambulance wait is 11 hours and your A&E wait is 8… you probably shouldn’t be in A&E.

I was thinking this…and OP also said “they thought he had sepsis”. He either had sepsis or he didn’t. I’ve had sepsis and not only was it probably the worst pain I have ever been in but they told me I had sepsis.

£100 fine is a lot though, ultimately I think the majority of A&E visits one should drop off and find appropriate parking or get a taxi.

Posts like to compare to healthcare in other countries, we are a small island, with so many people. Let’s try & be fair to the NHS.

wombat1a · 19/06/2026 02:14

Given the number of people who would drive to A&E and then be admitted for say 3-4 days I could see a dedicated A&E 24 hr car park would soon fill up with cars abandoned for a week at a time. Then people would start complaining about the 24 hr car park that is always full.

JustGiveMeReason · 19/06/2026 00:49

HumberSquid · 18/06/2026 23:00

And so?

@FunCrab was replying to my comment about it being even worse for staff.

HumberSquid · 19/06/2026 00:14

aliceyyyy2654 · 18/06/2026 23:01

Will probably get flamed for saying this but if your ambulance wait is 11 hours and your A&E wait is 8… you probably shouldn’t be in A&E.

Not sure that follows. I once waited in a&e for almost that long w ds2. He was literally the last child to be seen at 2am. Once he was seen he was admitted to a ward where he stayed for the next 3 weeks as he was, in fact, dangerously ill.

Tigerbalmshark · 18/06/2026 23:27

BendingSpoons · 18/06/2026 21:58

In the case of the North London hospital I am thinking of there definitely is no car park anywhere nearby. It's just residential permit holder streets that are all full amyway. I lived 10 mins walk away and honestly couldn't tell you where the nearest carpark was, likely miles away.

Same in most South London ones. Good luck finding on-street parking near St Thomas’!

LeftBoobGoneRogue · 18/06/2026 23:22

FKAT · 18/06/2026 21:24

Am I being unreasonable to expect a large city centre hospital with an ANE department to have a 24 hour car park?

I live in north London and can't think of any hospitals with A&E that have any car parking for patients, never mind 24 hours.

I think it depends which hospital. Northwick Park, Ealing and Central Middlesex have 24 hour car parks.
i think it’s the more central hospitals that don’t, such as the Whittington.

EilonwyWithRedGoldHair · 18/06/2026 23:15

aliceyyyy2654 · 18/06/2026 23:01

Will probably get flamed for saying this but if your ambulance wait is 11 hours and your A&E wait is 8… you probably shouldn’t be in A&E.

I was there for about 8 hours with a head injury. Turned out I was ok, but how do you know that with a head injury without seeking medical advice? I had briefly blacked out and felt nauseous and dizzy.

One time I was in A&E there was a young woman having a mental health crisis who'd been there for about 48 hours because no-one from mental health services has come down to assess her yet. She definitely needed to be in safe place, though admittedly A&E wasn't the best place for her but what else could they do?

BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 18/06/2026 23:09

aliceyyyy2654 · 18/06/2026 23:01

Will probably get flamed for saying this but if your ambulance wait is 11 hours and your A&E wait is 8… you probably shouldn’t be in A&E.

What should they do instead?

Yellowcakestand · 18/06/2026 23:03

Ritaskitchen · 18/06/2026 21:07

If it’s Bristol Royal Infirmary this wouldn’t surprise me at all. Everyone seems to be expected to attend by bus.

Trenchard St NCP on the same road is 24 hour. So that depends if you can leave the other person to go park once dropped off or they can get from car park to BRI.
As is the hospital car park behind BHOC but is tiny.

aliceyyyy2654 · 18/06/2026 23:01

Will probably get flamed for saying this but if your ambulance wait is 11 hours and your A&E wait is 8… you probably shouldn’t be in A&E.

HumberSquid · 18/06/2026 23:00

FunCrab · 18/06/2026 21:42

At this hospital there is an onsite car park for staff .

And so?

Wishitsnows · 18/06/2026 23:00

The not be able to park is yet another issue with the nhs as is the 11 hour waiting time. You just don’t have these issues in other countries.

Besidemyselfwithworry · 18/06/2026 22:55

the Parking at most hospitals is terrible - and public transport isn’t always practical for people - it’s a really difficult one. £100 is obscene tho, if you paid this I’d urge you to contact PALS x

ChiliFiend · 18/06/2026 22:49

FKAT · 18/06/2026 21:24

Am I being unreasonable to expect a large city centre hospital with an ANE department to have a 24 hour car park?

I live in north London and can't think of any hospitals with A&E that have any car parking for patients, never mind 24 hours.

Likewise, in south London. It's a taxi or a drop off.

FunCrab · 18/06/2026 21:59

ExtraOnions · 18/06/2026 20:54

If there is a 24 hour A&E there should be a 24 hour car park.

This is my thoughts.
I do not live in London and it is clear that hospitals do not have car parks near.
So I now wonder if my expectations are unrealistic.

OP posts:
BendingSpoons · 18/06/2026 21:58

FunCrab · 18/06/2026 21:26

The question is there a 24 hour car park close which may not be linked directly to the hospital but is accessible.

In the case of the North London hospital I am thinking of there definitely is no car park anywhere nearby. It's just residential permit holder streets that are all full amyway. I lived 10 mins walk away and honestly couldn't tell you where the nearest carpark was, likely miles away.

BendingSpoons · 18/06/2026 21:54

FKAT · 18/06/2026 21:24

Am I being unreasonable to expect a large city centre hospital with an ANE department to have a 24 hour car park?

I live in north London and can't think of any hospitals with A&E that have any car parking for patients, never mind 24 hours.

I got a taxi to a North London hospital to give birth because parking is extremely difficult nearby. Of course there ideally would be a carpark, but if the hospital doesn't have one, it's up to private companies to decide. It does seem a bit surprising they wouldn't keep it open 24hr right near a hospital, but presumably it's due to needing some remote staff available if open.

JustGiveMeReason · 18/06/2026 21:49

Well that is great news - or at least is, if there is enough room for all staff, not just a token 'we must include a staff car park' whilst forgetting the next shift have to have parked before the previous shift can leave.

So many hospitals were built before the advent of society relying on cars so much of course. We can't just 'create space' where there is none.

FunCrab · 18/06/2026 21:42

JustGiveMeReason · 18/06/2026 21:36

I think it depends on if you are asking

"In an ideal world, wouldn't it be nice if you (we) could find a parking space close to all hospitals."

In which case YANBU

or

"There should be some sort of law to insist that every hospital had 24hr parking close by" in which case YABU as clearly it isn't practical or realistic in many, many places.

In truth, I am more sorry for staff who have nowhere to park for every shift, whatever time they start or finish, than I am for patients who are more likely to be either one off or occasional visitors to the hospital and more likely to be able to ask someone for a lift or to get a taxi.

At this hospital there is an onsite car park for staff .

OP posts:
soonami · 18/06/2026 21:39

FunCrab · 18/06/2026 21:26

The question is there a 24 hour car park close which may not be linked directly to the hospital but is accessible.

No there isn’t.

JustGiveMeReason · 18/06/2026 21:36

I think it depends on if you are asking

"In an ideal world, wouldn't it be nice if you (we) could find a parking space close to all hospitals."

In which case YANBU

or

"There should be some sort of law to insist that every hospital had 24hr parking close by" in which case YABU as clearly it isn't practical or realistic in many, many places.

In truth, I am more sorry for staff who have nowhere to park for every shift, whatever time they start or finish, than I am for patients who are more likely to be either one off or occasional visitors to the hospital and more likely to be able to ask someone for a lift or to get a taxi.

FunCrab · 18/06/2026 21:34

ExtraOnions · 18/06/2026 20:54

If there is a 24 hour A&E there should be a 24 hour car park.

It is 24 hours A&E for the city and it is extremely busy.
The car park is private but the hospital have some control over it. Suffice to say I was told someone from the hospital would come out to open it up at a cost of £100.

OP posts: