"Parking frustration"

Thank you for taking the time to get in touch. I was sorry to learn of your difficulties in locating a car parking spaces at Hairmyres Hospital. We can advise that there are over 1200 car parking spaces at Hairmyres Hospital, which exceeds the design requirements for parking provision for a hospital of this size. However, we recognise that at peak times the car parks have the potential to be at full capacity The free car parking at Hairmyres Hospital is for the benefit of patients, visitors and healthcare staff.

There are car parks adjacent to each entrance and at each floor level and within the hospital access is available to each floor level by stairs and lifts which lead to ground floor, this may make the parking process easier.

It is important that the hospital car parks are utilised by patients, relatives and staff. Unfortunately, we are aware that train commuters have started to use the hospital car park. This can result in fewer car parking spaces available for people who have a real need to park at the hospital. Increased monitoring arrangements have been implemented to deter commuters from using the hospital car park. We frequently ask commuters who are using the hospital car park to make alternative arrangements so that our patients and relatives have appropriate access to the hospital. We have also arranged press releases in local media.

The hospital roads and car parks are not part of the public highway and we do not have any statutory powers to enforce parking regulations. Unfortunately, we face the ongoing problem with drivers parking inappropriately causing an obstruction to other vehicles or pedestrians and also able bodied motorists abusing disabled parking spaces.

We have signage located in all of the car parks advising drivers of the parking rules and we recently installed further signs at disabled parking areas advising that these bays are strictly for disabled parking. The road markings have also recently been renewed which clearly identifies parking bays. The management of the car parks is carried out on behalf of NHS Lanarkshire by our healthcare partners ISS Mediclean. Security staff regularly monitor the use of the car parks to identify vehicles that are abusing disabled parking spaces or are parked inappropriately or in a manner which causes obstruction to ambulances or the fire department, which is a health and safety issue.

We do our best to police the parking, and regular checks are undertaken by our Security staff who apply adhesive warning notices to vehicles, advising drivers that they have parked inappropriately and that their actions seriously inconvenience disabled motorists, patients, carers, visitors and staff. We recognise the ever increasing demand for car parking spaces and we are actively pursuing methods to control parking.

I hope that this response is helpful to you