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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think hospital parking should be for staff and patients only?

121 replies

NoHolidaysforyou · 21/05/2019 10:57

I'm not sure if I am being unreasonable but our local hospital seems to never have parking available during appointment times (even with charges). When I was pregnant I remember whole families going in (aunts and uncles included) to see an ultrasound... Surely visitors are taking necessary limited parking spaces from patients and staff? So... AIBU to think hospital parking should be for staff and patients only? Visitors (unless they have a blue badge) could probably take public transport or walk a bit to get to the hospital. I don't think it's fair to stress patients or direct partners or parents of patients trying to get the patient to see a doctor.

OP posts:

TheDarkPassenger · 21/05/2019 11:00

I’m not sure how you could regulate it mind but I do agree with you. I flew into a&e when my friend had taken an overdose, stayed there all night and in the morning was like shit I didn’t put money on, the nurses gave me a letter to give to the wardens office to cancel any charges, which I thought was pretty good and may be a bettter way of running the car park in general!

GreytExpectations · 21/05/2019 11:01

Visitors (unless they have a blue badge) could probably take public transport or walk a bit to get to the hospital

You do realize the whole country isn't like the place you live right? The only public transport option to hospital for where I live is a taxi and sometimes I visit my unwell grandparents in hospital in a completely different town. The hospitals I've visited have large car parks that you pay for parking. There isn't really a win-win solutions but I don't think you should be demanding visitors not drive to the hospital or park there. YABU

user2928362 · 21/05/2019 11:01

Why should staff have any more right to park than visitors. In any other sector where parking is limited staff will be the first people told to use public transport or park elsewhere.

madcatladyforever · 21/05/2019 11:03

I really don't know what the answer is, I loathed working in hospitals because I had to go to work at 5,30 just to get a car parking space and was asleep by lunchtime.
Car parking is definitely necessary for patients and relatives because hospitals are so far away from home now. Where I live the orthopaedic patients would have to get three buses to get to the hospital and there is no parking in the town.
If a relative of mine was going through cancer treatment or very seriously ill i'd want to get there and park as quickly as possible in an emergency.
Parking has become an absolute joke everywhere not just hospitals and public transport is an absolute joke.
In fact it isn't possible to get public transport to the hospice from where I live. My neighbour had to spend a fortune on taxis when her husband was dying to get there everyday or we'd pick her up after work. It was hell for her.

Lichtie · 21/05/2019 11:03

The Dark Passenger... But what OP is saying is that you are one of the selfish people that should have got the bus. So why should your ticket be cancelled?

WhatHaveIFound · 21/05/2019 11:05

Visitors (unless they have a blue badge) could probably take public transport or walk a bit to get to the hospital

So when one of my parents are in their local hospital i should spend 2hrs + travelling by public transport (which doesn't run overnight in case of an emergency) rather than 40 minutes in the car?

Nottobesoldseparately · 21/05/2019 11:06

Of course you are.

As an outpatient, you could have taken public transport.

Visiting a dying relative? Nope, sorry you can't park here, get the bus.

Child in intensive care? Nope sorry, you are not the patient, you can't park here, get the bus!

Sirzy · 21/05/2019 11:06

Because not getting visitors is so good for the well-being of the patients.

What I don’t understand is why more hospital don’t offer a park and ride type system if parking is limited on site.

Butteredghost · 21/05/2019 11:06

It's a tough one OP because visitors aren't just there for a jolly, they are an essential part of the patients stay - as dark passengers example above shows. Also in many cases they aren't in the best shape themselves. For example, an elderly women visiting her husband who is the same age.

MissUGirl · 21/05/2019 11:08

Hospitals generally make a profit from their car parks, so they would be wise to make them big enough to cater for visitors, out patients and staff.

Original poster

NoHolidaysforyou · 21/05/2019 11:08

@user2928362 NHS staff should have far more priority because I don't think any of us would want an A&E doctor delayed because of poor public transport or lack of parking... Lives depend on the staff.

OP posts:

lyralalala · 21/05/2019 11:08

If transport systems were halfway decent more people would get the bus to hospitals rather than drive round and round car parks trying to find a space.

That said, if planning was better then there wouldn't be the ridiculous lack of parking. I visited a new hospital recently that's in the middle of nowhere, it got lots of services on the one side yet they built a two storey car park so there's already a lack of spaces. They could have put a five storey car park on the same footprint. There is one bus an hour and people regularly can't get on the bus as it's full.

Butteredghost · 21/05/2019 11:08

And I work at a hospital where getting a park is like winning the lotto so I am sympathetic but there isn't an easy solution.

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 21/05/2019 11:09

Why should staff have any more right to park than visitors. In any other sector where parking is limited staff will be the first people told to use public transport or park elsewhere.

Because staff are essential to the running of the hospital, visitors aren't. It's unrealistic to expect all hospital staff to use public transport. When I was a nurse I had to be on the ward, ready for handover at 7am. There were no buses that could get me in on time and I certainly couldn't afford to take taxis. I can also remember finishing work at 2am (twilight shift) and having to walk to my car, which i'd had to park on a nearby side street because the hospital carpark was full, worrying that I was going to be mugged or attacked as the hospital was in a pretty dodgy area. With violence against NHS staff on the increase I don't blame staff for wanting to park in a hospital car park. It's not like it's even a perk, NHS staff pay to park.

NicoAndTheNiners · 21/05/2019 11:09

You have to plan accordingly. I've had a train, tram, bus trip today for an appt as I know there's no parking. Previously I've arrived at 7.30 am for a 10am appt to get parked. I agree visitors are very important for inpatients.

SleepingStandingUp · 21/05/2019 11:11

So someone has a neonate in hospital for months, plus kids at home and thry should catch a bus or walk so you can park up for your appt?
Or the grandparent that Ives in a town away from all their family should get no visitors be ause two hours each way on public transport isn't viable?
And how would you even police it? Our hospital has a dozen car parks. You gonna put security in each one checking appt letters and ensuring that only patients are given access? What about if I catch the bus to my ultrasound but my husband has to drive over urgently from work across the city? Or a parent rushes into A&E with all 4 kids and an aunt comes to take 3 of them home at 6 am so she can get them to school?

madcatladyforever · 21/05/2019 11:11

Actually park and ride is an excellent idea Sirzy!

Sirzy · 21/05/2019 11:11

. Previously I've arrived at 7.30 am for a 10am appt to get parked

Which although is understandable and something I have done in the past really by doing so it does contribute to the issue as the space is taken for much longer than it needs to.

Hospital parking has been the bane of my life for 9 years, now ds has a blue badge it is slightly easier but it’s still an unneeded stress.

Blackcountrychik83 · 21/05/2019 11:11

I don't understand why nowadays it's a thing for whole families to do stuff. I work in a shop and regularly the whole family will come to the Till to pay, so we put on extra staff thinking there are customers waiting and then get told, sorry we are all together! Sometimes 6 or 7 adults all standing in a queue to pay for something. Similar in A&E, family day out... Obviously I'm not talking about kids, regularly you see it with groups of adults. If they all come in seperate cars it can take up a number of spaces so yanbu.

Original poster

NoHolidaysforyou · 21/05/2019 11:12

@Nottobesoldseparately

Parent with child in intensive care would also be considered a patient for parking purposes imo. It's like when my husband got a parking pass because our son was in neonatal.

When I visited my grandfather dying I could park in the town centre or up the road, I was perfectly healthy enough to walk a little bit. I think it's impractical to ask people who are transporting patients to do this though when there's no parking left.

OP posts:

HariboLectar · 21/05/2019 11:13

Visitors (unless they have a blue badge) could probably take public transport or walk a bit to get to the hospital

Good one!

RancidOldHag · 21/05/2019 11:15

I think the park and ride from a satellite parking site could be a really good solution.

That could be for staff and visitors, wth patients getting priority at main site (possibly by high charges for all those without a ward note attesting need). You coukdaa an on-site short stay carpark for patient drop offs (driver could then either move to regular patient car park, or go to satellite site)

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 21/05/2019 11:18

My local hospital doesnt have enough parking for even just staff or patients. It is in the middle of nowhere with country roads leading up to it.
Its a nightmare!

NicoAndTheNiners · 21/05/2019 11:19

I couldn't walk due to broken leg when I did the getting there ultra early thing. Now I'm more mobile I'm on public transport.

Though actually I fibbed about the bus bit of the journey. It's the hospital medi link bus which used to be free from the tram but now charges. I planned to take it but its cash only which the website makes no mention of. Wasn't allowed on and had to walk 2 miles from tram stop. Only recently out of plaster and leg is swelling now.

Reallybadidea · 21/05/2019 11:19

What we really need, with the possible exception of London which ready has this sorted, is really good public transport. Then staff, patients and visitors would be able to get to the hospital without parking on site. Or off-site parking with shuttle buses and cycle paths.

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