Extra parking at Good Hope Hospital

By jnewton

UP to 50 new parking spaces are set to be created at Sutton's Good Hope Hospital this year.

The expansion will happen in part because of the renovation of nearby residential properties owned by the hospital.

Additional bays will then be created when Good Hope's layout is reorganised, upon the completion of a new ward block, which is due to be built near the A&E department by December.

A lack of on-site parking opportunities has been a longstanding complaint of both staff and homeowners who neighbour the hospital.

The creation of extra spaces was announced at a meeting of Trinity Ward Committee by hospital director Cheryl Hudson.

She said the projected number was not, on its own, enough to put a significant dent in the staff waiting list for permits.

It was also put to her by committee members that a proposed downsizing of maternity services at Good Hope's sister site, Solihull Hospital, could overburden parking in Sutton.

They fear there will be even more demand if Good Hope's facilities are expanded to meet an influx of new mothers.

The hospital director said associated parking issues would be addressed during the proposal's consultation programme, which runs until April.

Trinity Ward Committee's meeting came amid a wider NHS consultation on the future of hospital parking across England.

Scottish hospitals no longer charge patients to park and the issue is being debated under the consultation, as is whether to discriminate between illnesses when waiving some of the car parking fees.

The hospital director said Good Hope would be monitoring the findings of the project, which is due to finish next month.

She told the committee meeting: "All patients have a right to park no matter what's wrong with them.

"There is a real issue as to who gets free parking.

"In the trust we are looking at how we can offer more car spaces. More will come online year-on-year.

"The range of residential houses now owned by Good Hope are located in Bedford Road.

"Some are currently being renovated to create staff accommodation in time for April, but not all the properties within Good Hope's portfolio have had their futures decided.

Three of these were branded "slums" by the Trinity Ward Committee chairman, Councillor Margaret Waddington.