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Search forShut car park means delays at QMC
Wednesday, October 01, 2008, 07:30
The 750-space building was closed permanently on Monday amid fears its concrete was dangerously weak.
Patients and visitors were forced to park elsewhere on the hospital campus and many staff came to work on public transport.
Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, which runs the QMC, said around 20 patients were delayed on their way to clinics and some appointments were cancelled.
Medical Director Stephen Fowlie admitted some visitors and staff were inconvenienced by the delays.
But no operations were cancelled yesterday as a result of the problems,
He said: "We drafted in additional security staff to help manage the flow of traffic and to direct patients and visitors to parking spaces or off site to the park and ride services."
Hooleys staff car park, which has more than 600 spaces, will be given over to patients and visitors from today.
But people visiting the hospital are still being urged to use public transport, the Queen's Drive park-and-ride site or the Medilink bus from the City Hospital.
Staff with the flexibility to work at either the QMC or City Hospital have been asked to work at the City, while others have been urged to use other means of getting to the QMC.
Dr Fowlie said: "We appreciate it has been difficult to get into QMC, but with the support and help of our patients, visitors and staff we have managed with 750 fewer parking spaces.
"We hope that in the coming days there will be much less inconvenience and disruption for people coming to QMC."
The multi-storey car park was shut after a survey over the weekend revealed there was a risk it could collapse.
At the QMC yesterday, cars were queuing up just after 8.30am and around midday near the crumbling building.
Graham Clarke, 46, from Lenton, said: "I have been watching and the traffic has been a bit ridiculous.
"I use the MediLink bus so it's quite handy for me but I think it will impact on quite a lot of people."
Michael Orange, 62, from Wollaton, said: "I think most people are parking in Wilkinson Street and getting the Medilink bus. When I came by there, it was packed."
Leaflets were distributed to staff yesterday explaining they could no longer use Hooleys car park.
Martin Benn, Unison branch secretary for Nottingham's hospitals, said some staff were still confused about alternative parking. He said problems could increase today when Hooleys car park was not available for staff.
He said: "The arrangements haven't been communicated well enough. Staff feel they have been left in the lurch."
For more information visit www.nuh.nhs.uk or call a free helpline on 0845 6030897.
robert.parsons@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
Visitors pass the closed multi-storey
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