Hopes of easing parking nightmare at Southampton General Hospital thanks to a new provider

A new parking provider is set to be brought in at Southampton General Hospital as bosses look to tackle problems faced by patients and visitors.

University Hospital Southampton (UHS) chief operating officer Andy Hyett said the trust is partnering with a specialist provider later this year which is expected to introduce new technology to help manage parking spaces.

The changes come amid longstanding pressures surrounding parking and traffic at the hospital, with many of the county’s specialists based there meaning people from across the area must travel there for treatment - including those from the Portsmouth area.

Speaking at the UHS Annual Members’ Meeting on Monday, October 19, Mr Hyett acknowledged the difficulties facing people travelling to the site with long queues to find spaces at peak times.

He said: “Parking on a hospital site is a big challenge, isn’t it?

“I think every hospital struggles with that and especially when your hospital happens to be in the centre of a city.”

Mr Hyett said: “We’re partnering with a new parking expert provider as well later this year who will be able to bring in some new technology to help us manage the spaces better.

“Those frustrations about the barriers that don’t open or the machines that don’t work but we very much want to make it as easy as possible for people who do need to come onto site.”

UHS advises patients and visitors to allow extra time before an appointment when parking at peak times as spaces will be limited.

Southampton General Hospital has two main car parks, with a further facility on the other side of Coxford Road at Princess Anne Hospital.

The issue of fumes from cars idling on the hospital site was raised at the members’ meeting.

A resident asked if UHS leaders could tackle the problem by using the same approach as its work on smoking cessation.

Dr Freya Pearson, interim chief medical officer, said: “The short answer is yes.

“We have a really active sustainability group within the organisation and we can have some discussions with our colleagues in the estates department about some signage to reduce idling of car engines.

“I think that’s an excellent suggestion.”