Aberdeen Royal Infirmary car park gets £10m Wood Foundation injection

Parking has been an issue at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Up to £10m to improve car parking at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been pledged to NHS Grampian by The Wood Foundation.

The foundation, set up by businessman Sir Ian Wood and his family, is making the money available for the construction of a multi-storey car park for patients and visitors.

It would have at least 1,000 spaces.

The aim of the pledge is to see the car park built without diverting funds from healthcare services.

NHS Grampian welcomed the offer for the project, which would need health board and planning approval.

Work could get under way next year.

'Distress felt'

Sir Ian said: "We are very aware of the anxiety and frustration caused by inadequate car-parking at our hospital which will be even more acute with the new hospital facilities currently under development.

"While public transport to the hospital is being improved, for many from across the north east the car is the only solution to get them to appointments or visits.

"My wife Helen has championed this project within the Wood Foundation because she has, for some time, been concerned by the distress felt by friends and family when trying to park their cars while attending for treatment or visiting loved ones in what is already a stressful situation.

"With every pound of public funding badly needed for the care of people in the city and Aberdeenshire, we are pleased to be able to support a project which will not take money away from front-line services but will greatly improve the access to facilities for those visiting the hospital."

Sir Ian Wood said his wife Helen had championed the project

Prof Stephen Logan, chairman of NHS Grampian, said: "I am absolutely delighted to accept this very significant donation from The Wood Foundation. This will allow us to provide a facility that is much needed.

"Coming to hospital for treatment or to visit a loved one is already an anxious time and I know the stress of trying to find a parking space adds to that unnecessarily."