"Disabled parking needs a rethink at the Royal Hallamshire"

About: Royal Hallamshire Hospital

(as the patient),

On a recent visit I was unable to find a parking space on the main service road outside the hospital.

As an independent wheelchair user it makes things difficult and sometimes dangerous if I have to park down the hill from the hospital and push up the main road, especially when it is wet.

There are disabled spaces outside but they are always either occupied by non-blue badge holders or 'coned off'. I asked the parking attendant to remove the cones but he was uncooperative and I had to park some distance away.

I accept that the blue badge scheme is flawed, but staff need to be able to distinguish between those who can walk to some degree and those who cannot. Even if I had found a space I would have blocked the road getting mysyelf and my wheelchair out of the car; as it was I had a wet and difficult push up the hill from Glossop Road.

A review of disabled parking arrangements is necessary!

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Responses

Response from Hallam and South Consortia (HASC) 17 years ago
Submitted on 13/03/2007 at 11:56


I’m sorry you had a difficult time parking – parking at hospitals is often really difficult for everyone but parking for people with disabilities is really important – and I know reserved spaces are often taken by people without a Blue Badge. As Sheffield GPs involved in practice based commissioning I was very interested in the experience that Sheffield patients have at our hospitals so its great you posted your story on Patient Opinion. We will continue to do what we can to improve services on your behalf and will be looking to use your story in discussions with the Primary Care Trust and the hospital.

For information: Practice-based commissioning is the new system where general practices and other staff in the community are involved in deciding what services are needed in hospitals and making sure that they meet patient needs.

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