Hospital parking woes set to ease after cash injection

Plans to create two overspill car parks at Raigmore Hospital are back on track after trusteets of the Highland Health Board Endowment Fund approved a proposal to fund the project.

The project will receive £558,188 from the endowment fund and will include barrier controls for both entering and exiting the car park. Planning permission has been in place since last year to allow the 200-space car park extension, but was put on hold due to NHS Highland’s ongoing financial difficulties.

David Park, chief officer for NHS Highland, said: "We have known for some time that the car park at Raigmore Hospital does not have the capacity to fully deal with the peak traffic that comes onto the site each day and are very sympathetic to the frustration that gives to our patients, visitors and staff.

"I would like to thank the endowments trustees for their careful consideration of the proposal and very much welcome their support which will overall improve the experience of our patients and visitors."

Endowments trustees considered a number of factors including the current parking issues, the impact this has on the wellbeing of patients, visitors and staff and the impact on those living nearby as well as neighbouring organisations.

Mr Park added: "While being able to extend the car park is good news I recognise that this in itself won’t solve all the traffic flow issues, however it will support our wider plans on travel.

"Our roll out of NHS Near Me will also see fewer people travelling for appointments to Raigmore, instead having their appointments via video conferencing or using tele-consultation.

"Further engagement on the travel plan, encouraging car sharing and the use of public transport will also be part of these plans."

Highlands Tory MSP Edward Mountain has been campaigning on the issue and had launched a petition urging both the Scottish Government and NHS Highland to improve parking at the hospital, which received almost 1000 signatures this week.

He said: "I welcome the work of NHS Highland to secure additional and controlled parking for patients, visitors and staff at the hospital.

"It is clear that the voice of the community has been heard."