To just miss appointments as can’t park?

[Wishitwascooler]

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!

The new Queen Elizabeth hospital in Glasgow has horrific parking problems. And yes, it might be better for people to use public transport.

But for me to get there on public transport, I'd have to walk 20 minutes to the bus stop, get one bus half way into town, get off and wait around in Maryhill road for 10 minutes, get on another bus. The journey would take 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Or, I could walk out the door, jump in the car and be there in 20 minutes.

@DataNotLore Yeah?? Well how come the social housing tenant haters are always telling us that we have no choice where we live and we have to suck it up.......then, and that we cant be choosy. Funny how this fact always gets forgotten in discussions like this.

Our free hospital parking is used by a lot of commuters so parking is a nightmare. Whenever I go and want to park I always go at least an hour earlier than the appointment as it takes that long to find a space sometimes.

Otherwise I'll bus, taxi, park and ride, or get a lift instead.

Missing the appointment would be the absolute last resort and only if there was no other option.

Hospitals are like schools, staff aside, most people who insist on driving there do not have tothey just refuse to consider another option.

You honestly can't see why people going to be hospital appointments might have a greater need to drive? Not even if you try really hard?

I've never had a hospital appointment and been unable to park, in a large town in the north west, two different cities in the south east, and in two different cities in Wales. I've also visited family in three different hospitals in the south west of England and in the east midlands. Again, I've been able to park on site every time. Depending on what part of the country you're in, it is absolutely not a foregone conclusion that parking will be impossible at a hospital.

OMG you've cracked, you goddamn genius!

Let's everyone live in the city! I mean, who needs farmers anyway?!!

Our free hospital parking is used by a lot of commuters so parking is a nightmare.

Huge problem pre-pandemic at Gartnavel in Glasgow, I used to take DD to opthalmology there. Park for free in the hospital, jump on a train at Hyndland, into town in 10 minutes. Loads of people did it, everyone KNEW people were doing it, even with huge car parks there wasn't enough.

I do think charging is the way to go, with a reimbursement system for people who are visiting people for extended periods, having long/regular treatment.

DNA - did not attend

I have to say that, as a hospital regular, the best thing to come out of the pandemic was video appointments. Brilliant for me as I don’t have to worry about parking, brilliant for people who have to physically go to hospital as I’m not taking a space. Long it may continue!

That comment was just totally unbelievable 😂😂😂

Wow. There are a lot of perfect people on this thread, willing to sacrifice a precious day of leave to attend a routine maternity appointment.

I only had 1 maternity appointment in a hospital and I was completely taken aback by the parking. I never have any reason to go into hospital, so I didn’t have any idea about the dire parking and how huge these places are. Took around an hour to park and then to actually walk to the appointment. It wasn’t something I’d ever encountered before. Clearly the perfect frequenters of the MN forum are always on time and turn up hours before routine appointments as standard.

Fully agree. There are some really nasty, superior people on this forum who seem to love getting on their high horse over the slightest thing. Absolute miserable fuckers. I assume
it’s the only way they find any satisfaction in life.

Gulesmeansred, but if parking is a nightmare when you get there, doesn't that just negate the drive? Why not get a taxi

I only had 1 maternity appointment in a hospital and I was completely taken aback by the parking.

Me too - I had my first two children in England and my third in Glasgow. At that point in my area you had the choice of delivering at a unit by the children's hospital where parking was a known nightmare, or at a unit which is now part of the QEUH. I opted for the second, primarily because of worries about getting parked.

At the end of the day it didn't matter as I went into labour at 10pm on a Sunday night and the car park was empty.

Well taxis obviously cost a lot more too, don't they? Probably £15 each way from here to the hospital. I would imagine most people wouldn't want to shell out £30 when they don't have to, and take the option of driving and trying to park.

Avondale, not everyone has to take lots of time off to attend hospital appointments, there are other ways of living out ther that do not include the need for a car

Oh ok. How shall I move my farm near to the amenities of inner city living?

Gulesmeansred, and running a car ain't cheap either, swings and roundabouts

@itshotontheplayground

I take it you have never lived in a town or even a smaller city? To get to our main hospital by public transport you have to take a bus into the city (55 mins, every 20 minutes) walk a mile to the other hub (very annoying) or take bus (5 mins, frequent) then take the bus to the hospital (30 mins, every 15 mins) so you need to allow at least 2 hours each way. By car its 20 mins and thankfully parking isn't an issue.

Even when I lived in a different city it was 40 minutes on the bus or 10 minutes by car.

Tidfkypom, I'm guessing that pp was referring to the people moaning not all who live rurally

One hospital appointment recently I had to park over a mile away and walk back.

The reason for the appt? An x-Ray on a suspected broken foot.

Taxi?

but nothing is stopping you from driving and parking to a certain point, and find an alternate mode of transport.

It's the expectation to find a parking spot at the door and the refusal to consider alternative solutions that is unreasonable.

You shouldn't be driving with a broken foot anyway, even if you had an automatic.

If 'I live rurally' is what consitutes as having a fit, no wonder hospitals are so busy!