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Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 12:04pm
by NATURAL ANKLING
Hi,
Just waiting if you can get a parking space in one of about ten car parks.
Up to barrier get ticket join the queue round and round several car parks, now late for appointment.
finally end up in the first car park I tried, car in front didn't press button for ticket so only tried reversing out, I had to go somewhere else.
So I get a ticket (pay on exit first 20 minutes free) got in a queue of three people, a couple of minutes and I get a space.
Rushed into hospital, and sit down and waiting area, then I noticed three guys getting up and walking out, two of them were handcuffed to each other, that's a new one on me only ever see that on TV .

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 1:23pm
by mjr
I go to hospital by bike. Usually a folding one because there isn't enough cycle parking either. If I couldn't cycle, I'd get the bus, a lift or I guess an ambulance.

I don't think it's physically practical for hospitals to have car spaces for every patient. We need increases in bus services and cycle parking as much more efficient ways to provide access.

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 1:29pm
by Mick F
Apart from the handcuff incident .................

It drives me crackers about parking at hospital. Costs a packet too.
Even the staff have to pay and have difficulties in finding a slot! :shock:
https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/pa ... -derriford
I see blood donors get free parking. Looks like a good dodge to give blood instead of paying to park. :wink:

I use the free park and ride and either get the bus (with a my bus pass) or walk. I have been known to ride my bike there too.

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 1:47pm
by rjb
Yep chances of finding a parking space are slim. I have like others here either cycled, used my bus pass or park for 3 hours at a nearby Tesco then walk the remaining 1/2 mile. Its not very pleasant if like me you react badly to the anaesetic and throw up on the way home. :(

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 2:41pm
by Syd
Outpatients turning up handcuffed to one, or even two, other people is not uncommon in hospitals. I’ve even seen armed officers outside inpatient rooms on a few occasions.

I’ve worked in a few new hospitals over the years and the common theme on parking is that the relevant local council refuses to give the hospital planning permission for any further parking spaces. Seems they much rather prefer people turn up on public transport.

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 2:58pm
by NATURAL ANKLING
Hi,
Cycling I will consider that if I can lock the bike somewhere secure :?

My local Torbay hospital is a nightmare to navigate along the miles of corridors etc, I have in the past been lost for 20 minutes inside :mrgreen:

Theres no more room for car parks here and the surrounding estates are all permit only.

Really a messy building, I am sure much time is wasted there by patients and staff, needs knocking down with good provision for any expanding population, due to the ever ending house building I see at the moment locally, sign of the times.

Whats needed maybe is large capacity car parks and park and ride every 10 minutes to the hospital, charging 50p not the mandatory £2.50 once you are over 20 minutes. 21 minutes and its £ 2.50 :x

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 3:30pm
by 661-Pete
I agree, there's something very wrong with our hospitals, if they can't cater for patients and visitors who have no option other than to drive to the place. And cycling! I suppose the Health Trusts don't expect that many to cycle to a hospital - they expect them to arrive horizontally!

When my mother was terminally ill in hospital, back in 2002, I went to visit her several times each week - sometimes by car, sometimes by train/bike. The car park in those days was primitive, but I usually found a space - just! And it was expensive, for that time. Considering that much of the area was just rutted gravel, pretty poor value for money! (I think it's been improved, since).

Cycle parking? Don't make me laugh! Non-existent. The best I could do was find a drain pipe on the side of the nurses' accommodation, I just chained my bike to that.

At least, at our local hospital, which is within cycling distance (if I'm well enough that is), does have a cycle rack. Of sorts. This is how I photographed it a few years ago:
cycle racks PRH Apr 2014.jpg

Seems to have been quite popular at the time! My own bike is hardly visible: right at the back.

On the other hand, the hospital in France which I had to visit recently (a neighbour kindly gave us a lift, since Mrs P doesn't drive) - was a dream by comparison. 10 minutes free parking right outside A&E - with plenty of spaces available. And after that, unlimited free parking in the main car park - again plenty of room (this was a Saturday morning, I suppose it might be busier in the evenings). And I got seen by the triage nurse within about 10 minutes, and by the doctor within 1/2 hour.

Why can't we manage that?

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 3:44pm
by Oldjohnw
My hospital is a 120 mile round trip. Car the only reasonable way of getting there.

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 3:50pm
by Syd
Hospital car parking is free in Scotland with a few exceptions. Parking fees were removed from 14 sites. The three that remain are where PFI builds still have many years left on the contract and were too expensive, or not available, to buy out.

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 3:53pm
by pwa
Llandough Hospital a few miles outside Cardiff is a PITA for parking, and from our direction there really is no practical alternative to the car if you are visiting a relative every day, as we were a year ago. But the problem was eased when a free bus service from Cardiff reduced the traffic coming from that direction.

When my father was in his final illness he started in one hospital, was moved to another about twenty miles to the east, then to a third a few miles from that, each time being transferred to take advantage of specialisms in another hospital. Only the first was reachable by public transport from my home, and even that journey was impractical when taking my elderly mother to visit. Which she did every day. We took her in the morning, she stayed all day, then we picked her up in the evening. The car was essential. Even using the car the whole experience was a strain for everyone.

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 4:14pm
by Mick F
Oldjohnw wrote:My hospital is a 120 mile round trip. Car the only reasonable way of getting there.
Not that far to the two hospitals in the area here. Derriford in Plymouth, and Treliske in Truro ........... but cars are the only option if you live away from the cities.

There was an MP some years ago. North Cornwall. He went with one of his constituents to Derriford Plymouth from the chap's home in Launceston. By car it would be maybe 30miles. The MP went with him to see what the issues are for people getting to one of these massive central hospitals.

They went by bus for the chap's one hour appointment.
It took eleven hours home-to-home.
Includes walking to the bus stops and waiting for the connections.

I said on my previous post, that I use the park and ride and sometime walk.
The bus service to the hospital from there is a 25min service. If you arrive just as the bus has left, you can walk it in 20mins.

Also, I've taken a bike in the back of the car. It's only down the road from the park and ride, so take your hack bike, not your pride and joy. Lock it up - or not.

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 4:41pm
by gbnz
Oldjohnw wrote:My hospital is a 120 mile round trip. Car the only reasonable way of getting there.


I thought you lived in Berwick?

It's easy enough to get to the main Northumberland hospital by bus from Berwick (NB. I'll be on the Berwick bus tomorrow, as I've got another hospital appointment). To be fair, the three journeys I've done there in the past twelve months by emergency ambulance have been much quicker, not least due to the fact that you get seen straight away at the other end (NB. Though it can be difficult to leave the place - twice the $%^&$££ have attempted to force me to stay. Caught the bus home on both occasions :wink: )

And with more minor issues such as breaking a couple of ribs and a shoulder three weeks ago, I found it easy enough to walk & cycle to the local A & E

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 4:43pm
by al_yrpal
One day recently I was visiting my Mrs in the Royal Devon and Exeter and drove round for 45 minutes to find a space. £8.50 per day. I was going in twice a day. I was tempted to take the Brompton, park a mile from the hospital and cycle in. Now I have a Carers card so in future parking will be free.

Al

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 5:01pm
by Oldjohnw
gbnz wrote:
Oldjohnw wrote:My hospital is a 120 mile round trip. Car the only reasonable way of getting there.


I thought you lived in Berwick?

It's easy enough to get to the main Northumberland hospital by bus from Berwick (NB. I'll be on the Berwick bus tomorrow, as I've got another hospital appointment). To be fair, the three journeys I've done there in the past twelve months by emergency ambulance have been much quicker, not least due to the fact that you get seen straight away at the other end (NB. Though it can be difficult to leave the place - twice the $%^&$££ have attempted to force me to stay. Caught the bus home on both occasions :wink: )

And with more minor issues such as breaking a couple of ribs and a shoulder three weeks ago, I found it easy enough to walk & cycle to the local A & E


I live in the county. So first a bus to town - every two hours - then another bus or two. And timing to coincide with hospital appointment then two or three buses home. And last bus from town about 6.00pm.

Re: Just Waiting (Hospital)

Posted: 7 Oct 2019, 5:01pm
by francovendee
We're lucky at the moment that car parking is free at our two nearest hospitals. The population in this part of France is increasing fairly rapidly so although free you can spend some time hunting for a space. The hospitals are surrounded with housing so no possibility of increasing capacity. I think they'll have to put in a Park And Ride.