We are listening - Parking

Joanne

Parking is generally an issue across the three acute hospitals in Lanarkshire, but the Hairmyres site has the added pressure of being within a short walk of Hairmyres train station.

Anyone attending Hairmyres hospital whether as a patient, visitor or staff may have experienced challenges with parking. We acknowledge the feedback we have received from the public and our staff and recognise the impact this issue has on patients, visitors and staff alike; we are doing everything in our power to improve the situation.

We discuss car parking at our hospital daily safety meetings where we consider current issues that may impact on our ability to provide safe, effective, person-centred care.

ISS Mediclean manage the car parks on behalf of NHS Lanarkshire and they have increased early morning monitoring in an attempt to deter commuters and their staff can apply adhesive notices to inappropriately parked vehicles.

We have recently started a media campaign in an effort to deter commuters from using the hospital car park.

 

We know that patients might be worried about their health condition and the last thing we want is to add to their anxiety due to difficulty with finding a place to park and being late for their appointment.

We would appeal to commuters to think twice before they park in Hairmyres, please leave the car park for patients who need our services.

The NHS Lanarkshire – Achieving Excellence Healthcare Strategy acknowledges that 70% of people attending hospitals travel by car with only 15% travelling by public transport.

We would also urge members of the public and members of staff who are able, to consider using public transport to travel to the hospital if possible, or car share; but I appreciate this is dependent on accessibility, shift patterns and roles.

NHS Lanarkshire is currently considering alternative options that we might test to try and improve the parking situation for patients, visitors and staff. As soon as arrangements have been agreed we will publicise this through internal communications for staff and through the local media for the public.

If you have an experience about NHS Lanarkshire that you would like to share please speak to a member of staff, respond on Patient Opinion, or visit the “Your Feedback” Section of the NHS Lanarkshire website to see the other ways to get in touch www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk