The Uneasy Relationship - Healthcare Parking

Parking issues surrounding Hospitals are always an uneasy relationship between providing healthcare to the unwell, sick and infirm while being in a manner that allows for the upkeep of those healthcare facilities and a balanced budget. Those surplus fuds then allow investment and access to the latest medical advances.  Parking sits in the revenue earning category and not only provides funds to the hospital but can also manage demand on the entire facility through pricing. This relationship does not always sit well with some.

Those Hospitals who do not have an adequate understanding of how parking supports the ‘delivery of patients’ to hospital, contribute to and encourage growing the patient non-arrival statistics. They also help to encourage failing movement around the facility, peaking loads, contributing to asset wear & tear and diminishing wellbeing of those unlucky enough to drive to Hospital.

In the UK, this issue has been taken up by the British Parking Association. The BPA has prepared and published a “Hospital Parking Charter.” The purpose of the charter is to encourage health service providers and their car park operators to sign up to a self-regulating scheme that will allow charging within a regime (those that do charge) that recognises the special situation faced in a hospital environment.

The key objectives of the charter are to:

• Improve the standards of car park management and customer service.

• Provide clear signage and well-maintained car parks.

• Provide reasonable parking tariffs.

• Take best practice advice from organisations such as the BPA and NHS Confederation.

• Advertise concessions, such as those available to chronically ill patients.

• Ensure appropriate levels of disability provision.

• Take a flexible approach to cases where unforeseeable circumstances have led to parking contraventions.

• Ensure enforcement is appropriate.

• Encourage all car park operators to join the scheme.

Do you believe a Charter solves the issues around car parking at Hospitals?

Personally, I believe the Charter is a solid start but it has no power if Hospital management don’t know it exists. The onus is on all of us parking professionals to educate those who need it and to use it as a marketing tool for the industry. 

Kevin Warwood