Stressing about hospital parking

kiss_me_now9

You have my sympathies. Hospital parking is the bane of my life and I work in one! 

I would add to the other suggestions that writing to PALs to voice how you feel is really useful. Trusts are getting away with reducing parking and employing scammy companies to fine legitimate patients because people don't kick up enough fuss IMO. 

beckstar1975

My husband nearly missed no 2 being born as he was faffing about with parking (putting more money in the meter just in case), and I nearly killed him with no 3 as it was happening so quickly he missed the entrance to the hospital in his panic.

Do you both a favour and either get a lift or a taxi - for my 1st I was in labour for 38 hours, would have cost £30 + in parking nearly 20 years ago but thankfully a friends parents lived opposite and let us park on their drive.

strawb_shortcake

Where I had my children was rubbish for parking, the first a planned c-section we got a taxi. The second was an emergency at some silly early hour on a Sunday do the car park was empty. The last one I was in hospital a week before they were born so I didn't have to worry about parking that time :-) 

Don't most hospitals give the parents a pass to put in their car so no fees are payable? With all of mine being born by c-section we were given free parking for my stay. Only once we couldn't park in the car park and I ended up having to walk 10-15 minutes up hill post surgery to get to the car - we probably could have been smarter on that decision! 

But if its planned I'd definitely recommend a taxi! I'm not sure I'd have wanted to go in a taxi if I was in labour

thegreenone

From the hospital website. 

• There are not parking charges for the hospital car park.  ???????
• Payment signs are provided.
• Payment signs are clearly presented.
• Payment signs are located throughout the car park.
• Payment signs do make it clear if parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders.
• Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.

Do you or girlfriend have any friends who live locally or work car parks?  I had a look at JustPark, that wasn't very useful but you know the area so have a look.

Congratulations.  It will all work out.

sheramber

from Royal Albert  Edward Infirmary

https://www.wwl.nhs.uk/royal-albert-edward-infirmary

The Trust has implemented new patient and visitor parking arrangements at RAEI.

The main improvements are:
The main car park (car park D) now has twice as many newly marked disabled spaces
New Disabled parking spaces have been created nearby for Diabetic patients

Car parking is available on a Pay and Display basis. The cost is:
Up to 30 minutes drop off - Free
Up to two hours £3.00
Between two and four hours £5.50
Four to 24 hours £7.00

KxMx

elsien said:

Keep_pedalling said:

elsien said:

Get a lift or taxi, or drop her off (because there are always dropping off points), then go to park.
Really not sure what other answers you are looking for - We can’t magic up parking spaces if there aren’t any? 

You could possibly suss out acceptable  places to park outside the hospital. Example, my local Hospital has a nearby pub which is pay and display and it’s only a few minutes walk away. Something like that could work if you could drop your girlfriend off and then because you could be back with her within 10 minutes.

Apparently there are no drop off points at this hospital. 

https://www.accessable.co.uk/wrightington-wigan-and-leigh-nhs-foundation-trust/royal-albert-edward-infirmary/access-guides/maternity-ward

You are going to be with your partner for several hours, as suggested get a taxi or a lift from a friend. Afterwards you will be exhausted and high, probably best not to drive home in that state. 

That is quite poor, especially for people with health needs/mobility issues that don't qualify for a blue badge. 

My local Hospital did a very expensive re model which included moving the main entrance. Which now has toilets about a mile down the corridor. Instead of just to the side of old entrance! 

pollypenny

Hospital parking is horrendous here in NE Wales. It's free, but it seems likely that people park at Wrexham hospital before lift sharing to work. It's a huge car park which should suffice.   I second getting a taxi when your wife is in labour. Stress free.