NHS cycle parking

[downfader]

Hamster, I'm sorry to hear that.

We have several members of staff in the catering dept that wanted the c2w scheme but didnt bother when they realised how much they'd actually have to pay in. One of my workmates was so put off that she dipped into her savings.

I have found the info to be quite hard to get hold of. When I wanted to cycle to work again a fair few years back I had to go and ask security about it. They were the only ones who seemed to know where the lock ups were, who to and how to pay for a key for said lock up. Asking my own managers got me no where.

Mind you they had their own worries, lol. Now I seem to be the go to guy in our department at times.

Wildduck. Had a quick search online to see if a bike user group turned up and nothing sadly. I've just got a camcorder so I'm tempted to film how busy it gets. I'm thinking of setting up an email specifically for work (just hotmail prolly) and stapling bits of paper with it on a few handlebars? Do you think this would be rude? Its been suggested by a few other people online.

[Wildduck]

I'm back in work on Monday (just had a week's leave). Will do a little digging on the bike user group to see if its dead. If that's the case (which i strongly suspect), I suggest its reformed rapidly as we could see quite strong growth this year in employees commuting by bike to work (on the basis of the number of applications I heard about for the BTW scheme). Will see anybody in HR rubber stamps staff groups.

[eileithyia]

Good Luck.

It seems in Preston we have a rather more forward thinking trust. When i was a t the "old" unit we had a couple of proper bike lock-ups, garages with racks in them.
At the new unit on the main hospital we have bikebins. We pay £1 deposit for the key (forever), the locks are uniform on the bins, you take a trust lock off, put bike in, use own to lock in place, reverse procedure when goinghome. Only problem being you cannot permanently reserve a bin by keeping it locked when you are not at work. So if it is a busy morning it can be a problem, wandering around the site to find an empty one.
We did recently have an issue with some residents permently using 2 of the bins by our unit, effectively cutting the bins available to 2, after a few of us complained eventually estates cut the locks off and removed the bikes.

I was told we had an adequate number of bins (at this stage) as they were never all full at 9 or 10 when assessments of the bins were made. trying to explain that as our shifts cross over, it could be that one shift would still be using the bins as another shift arrives looking for bins, they then have to park elsewhere, then night shift go home effectively leaving bins empty. They did not understand this concept.

However the system works reasonably well. Having a new unit we have our own shower facilities within the locker room.

And last year they implemented bike to work. We do have horrendous parking/traffic problems though.

[Cunobelin]

To be fair there is a fair amount going on,, but since independent Trusts were allowed different policies. Portsmouth had a "tax free" loan system before the Cycle Scheme existed. There is also an extensive network of sites
NHS bike group
Spokes
CycleNHS

For example there are draft letters for Chief executives:

Dear Chief Executive,

I am a cyclist working in your Trust. I am writing to you to appeal for better facilities so more of my colleagues can join me in cycling to and from work.

The benefits of increased rates of cycling are considerable. On a personal level, cyclists enjoy better health. A Danish study published 8 years ago demonstrated a 40% reduction in all cause mortality, attributable to cycle commuting. Cyclists save considerable amounts of money. On a public health perspective, the more journeys made by bicycle instead of by car, the less the incidence of obesity in society. Reductions in air pollution improves respiratory health. From an environmental perspective, an increased use of cycles leads to reduced road congestion and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Most importantly, no large business has introduced cycle friendly policies without benefiting financially. Absenteeism rates fall whilst retention rates rise and productivity consistently improves.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss any of the above statements.

There is a group of bicycle users already in this hospital. However, there are many more staff who would like the opportunity to cycle. To facilitate them in this healthy activity, mutually beneficial to the employer, cyclists need secure cycle storage, lockers, showers and washing facilities. These facilities are currently lacking.

On behalf of those staff already cycling and those who would like to start, can I appeal to you to make the simple improvements in hospital facilities necessary to allow us to cycle to work.

Yours sincerely.

However as has been illustrated, the response and funding will vary form Trust to Trust

Portsmouth for instance funds the cycle facilities, inter-site minbusses and also "Park and Ride" from car parking charges

[Cunobelin]

Good Luck.

It seems in Preston we have a rather more forward thinking trust. When i was a t the "old" unit we had a couple of proper bike lock-ups, garages with racks in them.
At the new unit on the main hospital we have bikebins. We pay £1 deposit for the key (forever), the locks are uniform on the bins, you take a trust lock off, put bike in, use own to lock in place, reverse procedure when goinghome. Only problem being you cannot permanently reserve a bin by keeping it locked when you are not at work. So if it is a busy morning it can be a problem, wandering around the site to find an empty one.
We did recently have an issue with some residents permently using 2 of the bins by our unit, effectively cutting the bins available to 2, after a few of us complained eventually estates cut the locks off and removed the bikes.

I was told we had an adequate number of bins (at this stage) as they were never all full at 9 or 10 when assessments of the bins were made. trying to explain that as our shifts cross over, it could be that one shift would still be using the bins as another shift arrives looking for bins, they then have to park elsewhere, then night shift go home effectively leaving bins empty. They did not understand this concept.

However the system works reasonably well. Having a new unit we have our own shower facilities within the locker room.

And last year they implemented bike to work. We do have horrendous parking/traffic problems though.

Portsmouth charges £1 per month for "ownership" which works well. Locker are diffrent though under PFI we have central lockers which are worked as above as "hot lockers" which is a pain as you cannot keep a spare change of clothing if I am involved with a radiation spill, vomitting patient or other delightful risks of working with patients.

[Speshact]

I would suggest you lean upon the guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Guidance (NICE) http://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/PH13

There's loads of good stuff there. If your hospital is dragging its heels or claiming to be under-resourced then I suggest you need to challenge your Director of Public Health to give the right support.

"Recommendation 4: supporting employers
Who should take action?
• Directors of public health, public health practitioners in the statutory and voluntary sectors."

I went to a walking and cycling conference organised by Transport for London the other day and there was an interesting guy called Dr Adrian Davis emphasising the need for regular exercise (and more like 50 minutes than 30 mins per day) and the need for the NHS to be really leading from the front on this. Maybe the trust could pay for him to come and talk to the senior mgt and local DPH?
Here's something he produced recently:
www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corpora ... ummary.pdf

[Wildduck]

Mr.Downfader, good news. After a stuttery start but now catching a wave (to excuse the phrase), the Bike User Group (BUG) is being reformed (watch this space - rubber stamping this is being checked by a HR manager) and the issue of facilities (parking, changing and showers) is quickly moving up the agenda. I'm doing a bit on cycling with a health promotion slant as part of the Occupational Health stand at the hospital's open day and looking probably to relaunch BUG then.

Keep in touch, this is all looking very promising, especially with the Active Workplaces initiative and the backing I'm getting from some senior staff.

[downfader]

I'm glad if the BUG reforms.

I wouldnt hold much hope in the HR dept. They were useless when my manager went and enquired on mine and several other catering staff members behest on this matter (infact they were useless regarding other recent developments which I'm sure you know about involving our new employer. So hence I am no longer technically an NHS employee)

Did you see the new signs placed up btw? LINK

[thirdcrank]

It must be utterly demoralising for the NHS workforce to be under the "leadership" of somebody whose only contribution to the health of the nation is the next gimmick - sorry that should be "eye catching initiative"

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_a ... 794111.ece

[downfader]

It must be utterly demoralising for the NHS workforce to be under the "leadership" of somebody whose only contribution to the health of the nation is the next gimmick - sorry that should be "eye catching initiative"

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_a ... 794111.ece

Given what has happened in recent months thats the least of my worries. The whole NHS workforce is slowly being handed over to multinationals so that Trusts dont have to deal with the horrid process of redundency and cut back. Hell, get someone else to do it.. The only part of the workforce that may still remain in NHS employment are the medical staff. And agencies seem to be getting involved there too, from what someone told me a while back.

[Wildduck]

*Sigh...*

I share the same feelings as you DF re: the state of the NHS.

I was equally dismayed at the 'no-parking' signs and their legality. However it was this, along with the lack of adequate parking showering and changing facilities, and the relatively late introduction of the BtW scheme that convinced me that we need the BUG relaunched to represent all cyclists that work on the hospital sites.

I'm sorry you had problems before. Hopefully I'll be more lucky this time with the support of a very senior and influential nurse and the favourable vibes I'm getting from a HR manager who is investigating how BUG should be officially set up (so we have recognition from the Trust management).

Unfortunately I think things will go quiet for a couple of weeks now whilst I dig around and talk to people but I'll keep you and everybody else posted on developments.

[jan19]

NHS a flag carrier for healthy living? It doesn't appear to be the case when it comes to cycling.

It does seem a bit patchy. Malcolm's hospital provides secure storage (somewhat by default - its the gas cage which is securely locked but not exactly designed with bicycles in mind. Outside too.) and there ARE showers, but these are the other side of the (large)hospital and they don't seem to think providing some in another location is necessary.

Our nearest all-singing all-dancing new hospital has good cycle storage (one jealous husband when he saw it!) and cycle stands provided for visitors outside the main entrance (which I've used when visiting) but we've no idea what the shower facilities are. People knock local councils but my employer knocks spots off his hospital as I have completely secure storage and a shower.

Jan

[downfader]

*Sigh...*

I share the same feelings as you DF re: the state of the NHS.

I was equally dismayed at the 'no-parking' signs and their legality. However it was this, along with the lack of adequate parking showering and changing facilities, and the relatively late introduction of the BtW scheme that convinced me that we need the BUG relaunched to represent all cyclists that work on the hospital sites.

I'm sorry you had problems before. Hopefully I'll be more lucky this time with the support of a very senior and influential nurse and the favourable vibes I'm getting from a HR manager who is investigating how BUG should be officially set up (so we have recognition from the Trust management).

Unfortunately I think things will go quiet for a couple of weeks now whilst I dig around and talk to people but I'll keep you and everybody else posted on developments.

Well I have a feeling HR didnt bother with us because they knew we'd be in Medirest's hands so it wasn't worth his effort. I hope you have better luck than I did, my Manager did try her best. Incidentally I mentioned the possibility of the BUG and a couple of staff members in catering said they were interested and to be kept posted on any news.

[sore thumb]

Do as we say, not as we do. That's the NHS on healthy living. The NHS would not know the first thing about healthy living.

I'm viewed as been super fit or super mad for cycling to work every day.

[thirdcrank]

I appreciate that this is a thread about the problems of cycle parking at a particular hospital, but it really does raise a lot of wider issues for me. As the NHS seeks to centralise on fewer and fewer sites, it seems pretty obvious to me that motor vehicle parking is going to be an increasing problem, even though some trusts just seem to see it as a good source of income. It seems plain to me that encouraging people to cycle might help tackle that problem. Now, a fair proportion of hospital patients have some sort of health problem and in many cases it would be impossible or inadvisable for them to cycle in to appointments. Visitors might feel that all the grapes and bunches of flowers were not conducive to cycling so that leaves encouraging the staff. By a fortunate coincidence the government has all sorts of policies to encourage employers to encourage their staff to cycle. Unfortunately .....................

In the meantime, with that same government concerned about levels of sickness in the NHS workforce, Dr Steve Boorman has been tasked with finding a solution. (He's had some sort of similar responsibility at that shrine to good industrial relations - the Royal Mail.) Outsiders like me tend to rely on media reports (which are not necessarily objective or accurate.) I've read this http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_a ... t=0&page=1 which seems to suggest that Dr B is worried about poor gym provision for NHS staff. I don't know if he recommended the health benefits of cycling but I'm cynical enough to believe it would have made the headlines if he had. In any event, I think any half-decent first line supervisor could have told him that there is a direct relationship between poor morale and occupational health.

Sadly, the Secretary of State for Health only specialises in eye-catching initiatives http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/gall ... =333400348