Anger erupts among Devon hospital staff over car park ‘chaos’

There is anger among staff at a Devon hospital, who say they are having to battle it out to find spaces in an overcrowded, "muddy bog" car park. They have been told that they shouldn't use patient car parks and should instead park 20 minutes away from the hospital. Staff at North Devon[1] District Hospital (NDDH) in Barnstaple[2] are reportedly having to arrive up to an hour early to get a parking space or being made late to work when they don't find one.

One said they even received a parking ticket because they weren't able to park in a designated space. A post has been put up in the hospital's private Facebook group, telling staff not to use the patient car park if the staff car park is full. Instead, they have been told they should use Pilton Causeway car park or Fairview car park, both of which are around a 20 minute walk away.

A member of staff at the hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, told DevonLive: "For the last few months there has been a massive issue with parking. Staff are getting parking tickets within the car park, even though we pay for the parking and all have permits. "There is not enough parking to accommodate staff that they want us to park down the hill which is 20 minutes away and walk back there after your shift in the dark.

Now they have taken some of the parking away to build what I have heard are to be shower cubicles. "There has been warnings to us about parking in patients car park on our Facebook page, which has caused massive upset, comments and lots of complaints. Staff are arriving half an hour to an hour before their shifts to get a space.

Staff are stressed, and arriving late to work. "All staff are generally upset and angry about the whole situation and how the hospital are not listening to our concerns. This is not good for an already overworked, overwhelmed and stressed staff."

The member of staff has also raised safety complaints about the staff car park, which they compared to a "muddy bog". Photos show the surface caked in thick mud, as well as potholes and large puddles.

Hospital bosses have addressed the issues in a staff Facebook group, in which they have have told staff to stay out of patient car parks over fears this could cause patients to miss appointments. A notice to staff on the Facebook group says: "Owing to an increased number of vehicles parking at NDDH, we would like to remind staff that the public car park is for patients and visitors.

Staff parking here could result in patients missing clinics, as well as causing congestion. "No parking fees from the public car park will be reimbursed to staff if they choose to park here. "Please also be considerate to the surrounding residential areas by not parking on pavements or obstructing driveways.

"There are two car parks at the bottom of the hill that staff are able to park in and claim back the cost of their parking. They are, Pilton Causeway car park (The Old Sheepskin Factory) EX32 7AA, and Fairview car park (The Old Ice Factory) EX31 1JR. "Please take your ticket from either of the two car parks to General Office on level 2 who will refund the cost straightaway.

They will also accept a Ringo receipt for Fairview car park. General Office will be happy to refund daily or weekly. "There is also a Lift Share incentive for all NHS[3] staff to use.

Information for Lift Share can be found here https://royaldevonstaff.nhs.uk/car- sharing on the HUB. We have 8 designated Lift Share spaces. To qualify to park in these spaces you must ensure you follow the Lift Share guidance and 'authenticate' your Lift Share on every journey."

DevonLive contacted Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the hospital, to ask why there isn't enough space for staff to park on site, whether anything was being done to address the situation, whether there are plans to resurface the car park and if there is any truth to rumours about parking spaces being replaced with shower cubicles. The Trust said that they were aware that staff were finding parking "frustrating at times" and said that they were looking to make improvements. However, they said they had reached the maximum number spaces at the hospital and would not be able to guarantee a space for all staff members who use their cars.

They confirmed that shower cubicles are being installed next to the Fern Centre, in a bid to encourage staff to cycle or walk to work. A spokesperson for the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: "We understand that staff find parking at NDDH frustrating at times and we are looking at what we can do to improve the situation. "We have done what we can to increase the number of staff and public parking spaces available, but we have reached the maximum number of spaces we can create at NDDH.

Unfortunately we cannot guarantee an on-site parking space for every member of staff who drives to work. "Because of the limited space we have, it is especially important that people park considerately across our sites and ensure emergency vehicle access. "We support staff to consider alternative options, including:

• A lift share scheme for staff to reduce the amount of CO2 and vehicles on site.
• Regular liaison with the bus company regarding the frequency of service to NDDH
• A Zippo scooter parking area in the visitor car park
• Two nearby car parks where staff can park to walk up the hill and claim the cost of this back.

"Where possible we encourage staff to use public transport to reach the hospital site.

"Shower cubicles are being installed next to the Fern Centre as we want to encourage more staff to use healthier methods of getting to work i.e. cycling, walking, running and to have washing facilities when they arrive."

References

1. ^ North Devon (www.devonlive.com)
2. ^ Barnstaple (www.devonlive.com)
3. ^ NHS (www.devonlive.com)