to be upset about shitty hospital parking?

[NatashaHartford]

I'm sat in my car crying because I've missed my antenatal growth scan because the hospital don't have enough car parking spaces. I've spent 35 minutes driving around the car park trying to find a space. Heavily pregnant and in pain so can't park round the corner and walk just over a mile which is what I would usually do. I even phoned them as soon as I realised and they were lovely about it. Turned up in the clinic when I finally got a space and they sent me away. Terrified my baby isn't ok, missed my growth scan, had a day off work that I didn't need and am an emotional wreck. Built myself up to find out whether my baby was ok or not today and now I am in the dark with no further appointment booked.

AIBU to be in a complete state over this? Can't afford a private scan and their consultants are all booked up so could be another two weeks.

Even had to pay for parking because I was in the car park so long it clocked me as having parked and cost me £2.00, just to top it off!

For another time see if there's somewhere nearby where you can park and either catch a bus or get a cab from. It's what people do at our local hospital because parking is bad. I'm lucky as I live near a direct bus route although the buses are just once an hour and never fit with appointment times!!

Be pushy with them about the appointments. It's not like you can re arrange a funeral, is it?

It will feel uncomfortable, but in my experience the only way to be treated properly in hospitals is to be pushy (assertive) and refuse to accept being fobbed off or blamed for their poor systems/lack of concern/etc.

The whole point of that hospital and all the staff in it is to help you. Not for you to provide them with an ego boost, or for you to make their lives easier by going away quietly without the care you need and deserve. They are there to help you. Remember that if you're feeling awkward about having to be pushy to get this resolved.

Our local hospital is horrendous. I try to avoid going alone if I can, then at least one of us can drive around while the other takes ds in for his appointment - but not everyone has that as an option, and frankly it shouldn't be needed anyway! This is a hospital serving a large rural population who have little or no access to public transport, so car parking is essential, but it's sadly lacking - and bloody expensive.

op, and don't give up. Get PALS on the case and get angry. You don't have to rant and shout, but you have every reason for some righteous indignation here!

Can you ask if the consultant does other days at different hospitals, or if you can change to a different consultant?

This happened to me once when I was going for a MH assessment. I had left myself 45 mins to get parked and still managed to be an hour late. I eventually arrived in tears and shaking and I think they were scared not to see me!

I have poor mental health too (in the form of OCD and anxiety). I wish I had spoken about this in more depth with my midwife but they don't seem overly concerned. It definitely makes situations like this seem worse...

The consultant said she is running so far

They can't have it both ways - either you've missed your appointment or they're running late, in which case surely they haven't gotten to you yet?

Ok just calm down , I know it's easier said than done when heavily pregnant , stress will make you worse. You need to just phone your midwife and arrange a time ASAP convenient to chat , explain to her exactly what you've explained here and explain that you're suffering with anxiety because of this. Tell her what an ideal solution is for you and then see what she can arrange.

YANBU, it can be really stressful- not what you need before an appointment! Can you ask for early appointments? I always find it so much easier to park if appointments are before 10am-ish; and always try and request them.

Say you want to change consultant then you'll get a different day.

don't have the scan I won't be able to give birth in the MLU as they can't confirm baby is ok

Are you getting the scan because there is something potentially wrong with your baby or so they can confirm you can give birth in MLU?
If it’s the matter then I personally would give birth in a normal hospital especially if it’s your first. It’s not what everyone wants but I definitely felt better by being in a ‘proper hospital’ where I could be dealt with straight away if needed

"They basically made out that I should've left earlier "

But you left an hr before just to drive 20 miles?

Must be some shitty roads/traffic!

I mean really-if the car park is full-5mins or 2hrs-there's no guarantee that anyone will leave-especially if there are clinics that day or it's visiting.

How long past your appointment time were you when you arrived?

Maybe you don't get put into the list until you arrive?

Sorry you've had this experience. Either it's a 1 off, in which case carry on as before, or if parking is usually a problem (it is here) then work out how you can drive most of the way, park on a bus route, and bus the last little bit.

In my line of work I get regular phone calls from people literally sobbing that they have been driving round the car park for up to an hour trying to find a space. Loads of appointments are missed because of this . It's a fucking nightmare. They centralise services with no thought for logistics such as this.

I can understand the advice about arriving even earlier to be certain of finding a parking space, but that will simply make the parking situation worse overall.

Instead of being parked for less than an hour you could be using a space for two hours.

The only solutions that don't make the situation worse for other people would be to have someone drive you there to drop you off, so that parking isn't essential, or to take public transport - which absolutely should be available to a major destination like a hospital and the local council are in the wrong if it isn't.

Hospital parking is a nightmare. I always leave an hour to get parked when taking ds to appointments because it’s never easy!

Biggest benefit of him getting a blue badge is after 8 years of driving around car parks we can finally normally park pretty easily.

Many hospitals have crap public transport. I think park and rides could help

I hope you can get another scan date arranged soon.

My hospital is a minimum of 30 mins away, so I always allow an hour, and I always allow an extra 30 min to park unless someone else is driving who can drop me off at the door. Sadly it’s the norm at my hospital to not have enough spaces and the only way I could get public transport (a train) would be if I then got a taxi from the station or if I parked at the park and ride and got the bus from there. It’s really annoying!

Thats bollocks @OP, when you didn't turn up someone else was shunted in to your space so there will have been space to wait. I would have sat and refused to move tbh. Especially when I was 35wks and very hormonal.

I know exactly how you feel OP.

Even Blue Badge parking is a huge problem at our Main Hospital. I think it is even worse in fact because I need the extra width so can only park in the ones with hatchings, using a wheelchair means there is no choice.

I wish there was some way that those that need to be near the entrance but can use a normal space and those that have a driver and could get out of the car before the driver parks could have different provision to those that cannot use public transport and need the hatchings (eg wheelchair using drivers, those with disabled passengers who cannot be left unsupervised) .

I know this isn't disability top trumps but I don't go to the doctor because I can't face the hospital referral unless I think it is really very serious. Loads of effort goes into encouraging people not to leave things until it is too late but hospital parking is one of the deterrants IMO.

take public transport - which absolutely should be available to a major destination like a hospital and the local council are in the wrong if it isn't.

While almost every hospital I've ever heard of has some sort of public transport access, it also depends where your journey starts from. If you live in an outlying rural area, you may not have that option. In an ideal world, all hospitals would have an edge-of-town park and ride shuttle service imo.

The city hospital near me has lost loads of car parking and more and more services have been crammed into the site, as other hospital buildings elsewhere have been solved off for housing. It probably would have been cheaper if they'd sold off the main site as well and built a whole new, purpose-built hospital on the outskirts.

I'm about ten miles from our local hospital. After spending many an annoying hour driving round in circles with my elderly Mum I gave up driving at all and just booked a taxi.
I figured by the time I'd factored in petrol, the phenomenal parking charges and the stress it would be cheap.

I have an appointment myself next week. I'll be getting a taxi. Hope you get a scan sorted soon

Taxi companies must love hospitals

This is beyond unreasonable OP please contact PALS about this there will be an email for them on the hospitals website. Do mention the anxiety to them as the person they forward this to will have all the information they need to understand your situation.

You should be able to have a scan and then for the consultant should see it later at their convenience surely and not necessarily need to see you?

Can you go to the antenatal day unit/assessment centre as they usually scan people there (eg if people are worried about reduced movements they are asked to attend) and at least you will have some reassurance - and the consultant can see that scan. No need to go private.

I remember how nerve wracking this time was for me, I burst into tears as I couldn’t get on a tube in rush hour (there were severe delays so it was much worse than usual and people kept pushing in front of me) for a 9 am midwife appt at 40 weeks. Thought I might go into labour on platform and still not be able to get on a train or off the platform. Fortunately I went two weeks overdue...