Crunch talks over hospital car parking

NHS Tayside chiefs to meet politicians for discussions after wave of complaints

Dundee politicians are to hold crunch talks with NHS Tayside over parking at Ninewells Hospital.

Ninewells is one of only three hospitals in Scotland where visitors still must pay for parking.

Health board NHS Tayside agreed a private finance initiative that sees an outside company, Indigo, operate the car park on their behalf and charge motorists for use.

West End Liberal Democrat councillor Fraser Macpherson called for cross-party talks on the car park earlier this month because of a rising number of complaints about the service.

He said drivers have been complaining about rising charges and a lack of capacity in the car park.

NHS Tayside has now told Mr Macpherson it is scheduling a discussion about parking when members of the health board meet MSPs and MPs on September 29.

Mr Macpherson said: “I am pleased that NHS Tayside is prepared to discuss the parking concerns with parliamentarians.

“I would have preferred an earlier meeting but, to the credit of the NHS Tayside chief executive, at least it is now on the agenda.

“I have requested that local councillors for the West End and Lochee are invited to participate in the discussion as we get the bulk of constituent complaints and concerns about parking at Ninewells.”

Mr Macpherson said the Scottish Government promised to abolish all parking charges at NHS hospitals across Scotland but failed to do so in the case of Ninewells Hospital.

Health Secretary Shona Robison has said it is impossible to scrap the charges because NHS Tayside is “locked into” a long-term contract with Indigo.

It is understood it would cost millions of pounds to buy out the contract.

However, Mr Macpherson says he believes the charges should be scrapped and that he also receives regular concerns from constituents who live near the hospital site about vehicles being parked on-street, causing obstruction and difficulties for residents trying to park near their home.

He said: “There’s a real need for proper and positive cross-party discussions to look at ways of improving the parking situation for out-patients, NHS staff and hospital visitors.

“I am therefore pleased at the positive response from NHS Tayside to my call and that, by working together positively, ways of improving the car parking problems at Ninewells Hospital can be found.”

There’s a real need for proper and positive cross-party discussions to look at ways of improving the parking situation ... COUNCILLOR FRASER MACPHERSON