John Radcliffe Hospital addresses parking issues after complaints

A staff member shared an image on social media with the caption "hospital parking is honestly a joke"

A hospital says it is trying to ease parking problems after receiving multiple complaints.

A staff member at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford told the BBC "bad parking" was affecting workers' shifts and patients' appointments.

The woman shared a picture of the hospital's crowded car park on social media.

Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) said it was working on a project that would include "more clinical spaces".

Mark Holloway, from the OUH, said they were "aware" of the parking difficulties at the site

The NHS staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, captioned her image "hospital parking is honestly a joke".

She said one of the reasons was a lack of pre-designated bays.

"I've been blocked in by people because people just abandon their cars when they don't have time or there's no spaces available and the space just isn't utilised very well," she said.

"So I know myself, and a lot of other staff members, end up just getting in early... so they can park which is a bit ridiculous.

"But also you see patients struggling... having to get there hours early... or running late for appointments because they simply haven't been able to find parking."

Mark Holloway, chief estates and facilities officer at OUH, said he was aware parking "can sometimes be difficult".

"Our theatres project is currently at an early stage of development and will include more operating theatres and clinical spaces," he said.

He added they were "exploring all options for our sites", including "sustainable car parking travel and transport opportunities".

Dr Victoria Barry, from the independent watchdog Healthwatch Oxfordshire, says the solutions "are wider than just the hospital".

"This is an inner city hospital, with a very limited space. They need to work out how they're going to cope," she said.

"And part of that is encouraging patients to plan ahead and change behaviours with sustainable travel. But also... it's an ongoing issue that continues and needs a solution."

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