Hospitals to get hundreds of new parking spaces
Hundreds of new parking spaces could relieve major problems at two hospitals. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has plans to add 350 bays at its two hospitals in Maidstone and Pembury.
The trust originally claimed it would submit an application for 140 spaces at Tunbridge Wells Hospital by the summer.
It now expects to submit the plans by January, but with a revised total of 150 spaces. Next month the trust will also apply for another 200 spaces at Maidstone Hospital. If approved it will bring the total number of spaces to 698. James Barker came close to missing an appointment because of parking problems at Maidstone.
The 69-year-old said: “It’s all well and good adding parking but they’ve got to improve what they have.
“I’ve been to the hospital at Pembury and it seems to have a system where you can only get in to the car park if there is a space. At Maidstone you just go round and round clogging it up.
“I’ve heard of people having to cancel appointments because they’re running late. You can’t have that.” Mr Barker also complained over pay machines and parking barriers both being out of order, causing further delays for visitors.
Tunbridge Wells Hospital has 512 beds and employs 2,000 people with 447 visitor bays and 818 staff spaces.
If its latest plans are submitted and approved, the total will rise to 1,415.
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust raised more than £2million in the 2017/18 financial year from charging patients, visitors and staff to park at its two hospitals. A spokesman from the trust said: “We would like to assure our patients and visitors that providing additional parking across our sites is a priority for us.
“We have put together detailed proposals to provide additional car parking spaces at both Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone Hospital and are working with local authorities and planners to deliver solutions.
“Planning applications for both sites will be submitted in early January and it is anticipated these additional car parking spaces will be completed by spring next year.”