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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To just miss appointments as can’t park?

278 replies

Wishitwascooler · 20/06/2023 12:14

Hospital is full to bursting and you can’t park anywhere for miles around. They won’t talk to me on the phone as I’m in the car even though outside hospital 😂 not sure what to do!

OP posts:
CowboyFromHell · 21/06/2023 19:37

There’s a real tension between what is best for the individual in these circumstances, and what would be best for everyone overall.

So many posts here are saying OP should have left work earlier in order to have more time to park. But this just means there are even more cars in the car park at any one time. What happens then - do people start arriving two hours before their appt rather then one hour?

Thinking about it, maybe people should only be allowed into the car park 15 mins or whatever before their appointment time. In a weird way that could be more efficient!

mattthefish1 · 21/06/2023 19:45

Don't worry this will be a thing of the past when they make Hospital parking free like the media keeps campaigning for!!

Utterknowitall · 21/06/2023 20:27

I think as grown ups, it's our responsibility to get ourselves to appointments on time. It cannot possibly be anyone else's responsibility/ fault.

Newname47 · 21/06/2023 20:31

Been there. I asked for my antenatal appointments to be at a different local hospital where it's easier to park. Still not recovered from the literal hour queue to get in to UCH.

Ukrainebaby23 · 21/06/2023 21:25

But you do need to leave at 11 if you are going to try to park. And as you've seen, it's not an uncommon problem.

Here in Nottm we have park and ride buses to the hospitals as well as one on a tram stop and still car parking issues are the most talked about in our community chat.

Obviously it's your choice to decide whether you need the appointment but allowing adequate time to arrive/park/find is common sense, if a little annoying.

Ukrainebaby23 · 21/06/2023 21:26

Forgot to add, locally appointments after 3.30pm generally easier to find a parking space though you pay the price with rush hour traffic as you leave.

MistyMountainTop · 21/06/2023 21:53

sunshinesupermum · 20/06/2023 12:15

You're not at St George's in Tooting, are you? It's always dreadful there :-(

Last time I needed to go there, I parked at Waitrose Wimbledon & caught a 493 which dropped me at the door! You do only get 2 hours parking though

Teder · 21/06/2023 22:40

CowboyFromHell · 21/06/2023 19:37

There’s a real tension between what is best for the individual in these circumstances, and what would be best for everyone overall.

So many posts here are saying OP should have left work earlier in order to have more time to park. But this just means there are even more cars in the car park at any one time. What happens then - do people start arriving two hours before their appt rather then one hour?

Thinking about it, maybe people should only be allowed into the car park 15 mins or whatever before their appointment time. In a weird way that could be more efficient!

I understand the sentiment but things like that always disadvantage those with additional health and mobility needs. I will easily need double what an otherwise fit person needs to get out of my car, into the hospital and catch my breath. Plus statistically, people like me are at hospital way more than others.
I don’t have a magic answer. It’s a real pain in the arse and expensive. I end up paying so much money for taxis to access basic healthcare. I can just about afford it but I am saddened by those who cannot. It’s so stressful!

Teder · 21/06/2023 22:42

OP, your work sound like utter shits and cannot believe you climbed a wall! Hope you’re ok and most of us appreciate how bloody stressful balancing work and hospital parking (!!) can be.

Georgeandzippyzoo · 21/06/2023 23:19

nokidshere · 20/06/2023 12:19

Our local hospital is similar. I either get someone to come with me and drop me at the door then they go and find parking, or, if I have to go alone, I arrive an hour before the appointment. It's a right pain really either way.

I do this. My anxiety and blood pressure go up driving round looking for a space!

Grrrrdarling · 21/06/2023 23:51

Wishitwascooler · 20/06/2023 12:14

Hospital is full to bursting and you can’t park anywhere for miles around. They won’t talk to me on the phone as I’m in the car even though outside hospital 😂 not sure what to do!

In this situation I would find somewhere nearby to park & get bus or walk the last leg, if you can, to the hospital. I suffer with Fibromyalgia & CFS as well as having bad back so walking or standing for too long would do me in so I just park as near as I can without inconveniencing anyone or risking a fine.
I usually park at the pub across the road from one of our hospitals & just grab a snack & a cuppa when I have had my appointment to validate my free parking.
Parking at a lot of hospitals is a nightmare. Off the Newcastle on Friday, taking a friend for a pre-op assessment, & thankfully she has a blue badge so free parking buuuut getting a disabled space is often hit & miss. The carpark is ANPR too so once you are in you just have to drive round & round until you find a space.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 22/06/2023 08:49

What a pain, glad you made it in the end and hope it was all good.

Two observations: it sounds as though you weee potentially out of the office for even longer than necessary due to their "accommodating nature". I would put my foot down for next time. You'll be moving to weekly check ups soon though possibly not all at the hospital.

The second point is this where you will give birth? It might be worth seeing if there are any local "airbnb style parking spaces" Lots of people rent their driveways out and you can book via an app. Otherwise I'd plan to take a taxi unless the hospital make special arrangements for people on the labour ward.

HolyFire · 22/06/2023 08:53

In my area hospital parking is free and it’s still a nightmare.

HolyFire · 22/06/2023 08:54

Pp said it will be a thing of the past when parking is free. It will probably encourage more people to drive.

Needmoresleep · 22/06/2023 08:58

Parking would become far far more difficult if it were free. Especially for hospitals located in town centres, where a good number of staff, visitors and patients currently pay to use public transport.

GingerBeerDrinker · 22/06/2023 09:47

This thread makes me glad my local a&e hospital (about 9/10 miles away, not the town hospital with a miu) has a multistory car park, as well as drop off points, and their previous regular car parks have been adapted to staff and disabled parking, and one has a discharge lounge with some parking for picking up from DL

DiscoDragon · 22/06/2023 09:56

Our hospital is now impossible to get parked at, one of the car parks has been re-purposed as an ambulance park and every time I have to go there are roadworks/construction happening somewhere on site.

I don't even bother trying to drive in now I just go to the nearest Park & Ride and catch a bus in, which has been so much easier. Big free car park, only have to pay about £1.50 for the bus fare and don't have to worry about appointment times running over etc and the buses drop off right outside the front door of the hospital.

Sigmama · 22/06/2023 10:39

Newname - isn't uch in central London?

Sigmama · 22/06/2023 10:40

Discodragon - that sounds great, we should be encouraging fewer people to drive

LongDarkTeatime · 22/06/2023 11:24

OP am shocked anyone is criticising you.
I work at a hospital where it is a farce trying to park between 8.45am-2pm. It’s difficult for staff but we really really feel for our patients trying to get to appointments. I’m sorry you’ve had this issue too. If they ever DNA you when you’re not able to park please contact PALS to highlight it. In my experience things only change when enough boxes are ticked or reports go in. Parking is a massive issue but hopefully one day …
(oh yes, and vote this NHS wrecking government out)
Hope the rest of your appointments go more smoothly 🙂

imgoingtoscream · 22/06/2023 13:37

Wishitwascooler · 20/06/2023 12:24

It’s not that simple @HermioneWeasley . Work won’t let you leave an hour early! And yes I wish I had got a taxi but hindsight is a wonderful thing …

Just tell work you need to leave earlier because it takes ages to find a parking spot. Tell them that if you can't find a spot you'll end up being there later until they can see you, or even have to book another appointment!

Original poster
Wishitwascooler · 22/06/2023 13:43

So this is a true story about where I work and I’m outing myself but no matter.

I was due to get married February 2022, and we had to get 30 days notice. Registry office open 8 -4 and about 45 mins from my workplace.

We arranged this for October half term (I am a teacher) but the registry office cancelled because so many staff were isolating with COVID. Tried to rearrange for the Christmas holidays but apparently deaths are prioritised then (!) In other words, I didn’t have any holiday I could use between October and February half term when I was due to get married.

I arranged to do the 30 days notice on a morning when I didn’t have a class so no one affected, no cover needed - school refused.

I explained this meant I couldn’t get married, would lose thousands and mess a lot of people around. The conversations went like this:

’we are not saying you can’t get married. We are asking you to get the notice in your own time.’
’but I can’t!’

in other words, the chances of me getting out early in order to park are approximately … nil.

OP posts:
sclarke624 · 22/06/2023 13:56

Chichester is the same, roadworks full carpark, bus to city centre and change buses.

Disabledmomma · 22/06/2023 16:53

Worcester Royal, Kidderminster, Redditch and the QE and all nightmares for parking, even with a bb. I have a self propel wheelchair and some of the parking makes getting from the car to the hospital impossible because of huge inclines -I can't physically push myself up them. I'm trying to stay as mobile as possible by staying in this chair.
It's not easy. Plus I have regular appointments at each hospital. I don't want to have to rely on others getting me there and back.
You have my sympathies op and I'm impressed at jumping over the wall while that pregnant. Hope you and your babe are safe and well.

Twentyfirstcenturymumma · 22/06/2023 18:36

Wishitwascooler · 22/06/2023 13:43

So this is a true story about where I work and I’m outing myself but no matter.

I was due to get married February 2022, and we had to get 30 days notice. Registry office open 8 -4 and about 45 mins from my workplace.

We arranged this for October half term (I am a teacher) but the registry office cancelled because so many staff were isolating with COVID. Tried to rearrange for the Christmas holidays but apparently deaths are prioritised then (!) In other words, I didn’t have any holiday I could use between October and February half term when I was due to get married.

I arranged to do the 30 days notice on a morning when I didn’t have a class so no one affected, no cover needed - school refused.

I explained this meant I couldn’t get married, would lose thousands and mess a lot of people around. The conversations went like this:

’we are not saying you can’t get married. We are asking you to get the notice in your own time.’
’but I can’t!’

in other words, the chances of me getting out early in order to park are approximately … nil.

Gosh, I'm wondering which bit of your careful explanation and request the HT didn't understand! No wonder teachers' morale is rock bottom. 😔
I'm pretty sure you do some school-related work in your own time occasionally!???!
What happened re getting married... almost hoping you took a sickie and went to the registry office in a wig, sunglasses and large hat on your way to pick up migraine meds from the pharmacy!!!
You don't have to divulge what happened, obvs!