The campaign led in Aberconwy by Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy and Shadow Minister for Social Care, has vowed to fight on to save the park and ride service at Glan Clwyd Hospital, and has called on the health board to focus on delivering a viable off-site parking service.  This follows the securing of a short term victory with the extension of the arrangements until 31 March 2020.

Commenting on securing a second extension, Janet said:

“I am delighted that the health board is listening to our cross-party and community wide effort to save the service.

“As the Chief Executive of the health board has himself acknowledged, whilst there has been an increase in onsite parking capacity, there has been a concurrent rise in demand for parking.

“I have already made it abundantly clear in my letter last month that users of onsite parking facilities report patients often being left with no option but to wait for someone to vacate a space, or park unsafely in inappropriate locations so to reach appointments.

“I know from first-hand experience the stress of finding onsite parking, so am slightly disappointed that the health board feel a need to strengthen their work to clearly evidence the consequences of closure.

“We have reached a point where relying on current onsite parking alone is insufficient, so I implore the health board to focus on delivering a viable off-site parking service.

“Only last week I met with the Chairman and reminded him of options suggested to me by NHS staff and patients, such as only providing the service at peak times, or even charging £1 for a return ticket”.

ENDS

Document:

Letter to the Chief Executive re Park and Ride Ysbyty Glan Clwyd

Letter from the Chief Executive re Park and Ride Ysbyty Glan Clwyd

Notes:

Hospital park and ride service wins another six month reprieve