Fury over new parking rules at the Rochdale Infirmary

Anger has been expressed anger over the appointment of a private company, APCOA to run the car parks at Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Trust claims that the new arrangements will improve car parking and security for patients and visitors at its hospitals which include the Rochdale Infirmary but staff, trade unions and health-campaigners have described them as ‘a scandal’ and are appalled at the £60 fines being given out for non-compliance.

Parking is now designated between different types of user. Separate parking areas have been created for patients and visitors, and for hospital staff. Patient and visitor parking is now closer to the hospital main entrances and clinics.

The Trust has also extended its free pick-up and drop-off zone period for all users for up to 30 minutes and has claims that this has also improved its disabled parking.

Each hospital site has a number of designated patient and visitor parking areas identified by green coloured signs with a pay and display machine. Some hospitals, including North Manchester and The Royal Oldham, have benefitted from the creation of additional car parking spaces.

Staff with a parking permit must now use the designated staff parking areas which are identified by pink signage. Staff working on night shifts are allowed to use the green patient and visitor areas between the hours of 8pm and 8am.

To ensure the effective operation of the new parking policy, parking enforcement and security will be strengthened across the Trust’s hospitals.

Liz McInness, Branch Secretary of trade union Unite, which represents staff throughout the Trust, told Rochdale Online: “The new arrangements, including the appointment of a private contractors, are a scandal. The Trust has ignored our many concerns over this issue. This is wholly unacceptable; particularly when you consider that the Trust has recently engaged yet another private company, Optimise, which is engaged in a project called ’Listening Into Action’, which has been brought into address some of the low morale issues identified in the recent Staff Satisfaction Survey which placed the Trust in the bottom 20% of all NHS organisations in England and Wales in terms of staff morale.”

Ms McInness went onto point out that parking at Welsh and most Scottish hospitals is free of charge.

Local health campaigner Jean Ashworth, a former Senior Healthcare Support-Worker at the Infirmary and an ex Chairperson of the council’s Heath Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: “The new arrangements are causing chaos. No-one; patients, visitors or staff know where to park anymore. I would urge anyone to read the small print when they park their cars as I believe that this new company will show no mercy."

Mrs Ashworth went on to say that she that she had been warning of the involvement of a private company to run the Trust’s car parks for a long time but had been met with denials when she had raised the issue.

Speaking for the Trust, John Wilkes, Director of Facilities said: “Like most hospitals, we often receive comments from patients about difficulties they experience in parking at some of our hospitals. To address this, we consulted on changes to our Vehicle Parking Policy earlier this year and we had around 1500 replies. Our new car parking arrangements will help separate patient and visitor parking areas from staff parking areas. We are also extending our free pick up/drop off period to 30 minutes and improving our disabled parking. All these measures should make it much easier for patients, visitors and staff to park in an appropriate place.

“Most people park their cars responsibly, but remarkably some people still think it is acceptable to park on double yellow lines, or in ambulance bays. Those irresponsible drivers could delay emergency vehicles or create hazards for patients and staff.

“A registered car parking company APCOA will be patrolling our car parks. They will be there to help and guide people to the right parking place. But for the small number of inconsiderate drivers who do park irresponsibly, do not pay and impede others they will also be able to issue a parking enforcement notice of up to £60 for unauthorised parking. With support and co-operation from both patients and staff, our new arrangements should make parking at our hospitals safer, more accessible and easier for everyone.”