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

[FunCrab]

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.

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

I think it depends if this car park is operated by the hospital or not. If so, YANBU. If not, it’s up to the private operator what they want to do.

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

Yes. Things need to change. Especially when they've closed many small hospitals, leaving only one place to go in each city. If you're at hospital, especially if you're struggling to walk, the last thing you need is to worry about parking-maybe if GPs came round, or there were other places you could go to be seen outside main hours, it would be different, but many people have to drive there. One thing people in other countries say is that valet parking at a hospital can be a lifesaver. Sometimes literally.

Would a taxi be an option? Lots of people don't own cars

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.

My partner collapsed in the car the first time so no could not get taxi as could not get him out of the car.
The second occasion he felt the same way as the first time so I just immediately thought get him there and drove.

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

No it is not.
But we know what waiting on ambulances mean. I was told 11 hours, now I know he may well not be with us if that was what I did. They thought he had sepsis so we are lucky and that is because I did not wait for an ambulance.

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.

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.

No there isn’t.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

And so?

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.

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.

What should they do instead?

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?