Park and ride solution for hospital traffic

Park and ride solution for hospital traffic image Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Home » News » Park and ride solution for hospital traffic

Thursday 25 July 2024

Parking and traffic congestion at Worcestershire Royal Hospital will be eased thanks to the reintroduction of a park and ride service for hospital staff.

Final plans are being put in place for the facility, proposed to be located at Sixways, and operational in the early autumn.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Worcestershire County Council have been working jointly on the plan, as part of a wider exploration of a range of options to make it easier for patients, visitors and staff to park at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, as well as reducing traffic congestion on the site. The service is an interim solution while other permanent options are being considered.

Stephen Collman, Managing Director of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, says: “We have been working hard to alleviate the issues we know are experienced by those visiting the hospital – especially at peak times. In the short term this has included the introduction of traffic management, and we have also been working to identify a range of other options that will provide a longer-term solution.

“We are delighted that, following positive discussions with Worcestershire County Council, we are now in a position to move forward with one of these options which is the reintroduction of a park and ride facility at Sixways for colleagues working at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

“The park and ride development has been an element of the Trust’s strategy and 10 point plan. We have listened to colleagues about how it previously operated and we are now working on finalising the details – it will give colleagues more parking options, allowing those who wish to use an alternative to on-site parking the choice to do so.”

Councillor David Ross, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Wellbeing, added, “I’m delighted to see the collaborative efforts between our team and the Trust bearing fruit in addressing the traffic challenges around the hospital site. We are excited about the implementation of this remote solution for NHS staff, which we hope will enhance traffic flow and alleviate congestion. This initiative is expected to hugely benefit staff, and improve access to the hospital site for patients, visitors, and bus users alike.

Preparations for this staff Park and Ride facility are now well underway and poised to become a reality soon, marking a significant step forward in our efforts to improve transportation and accessibility for everyone associated with the hospital.”

The County Council’s Transport Team is supporting the Trust in making the final arrangements and the NHS Staff Park and Ride is expected to be operational in the early autumn 2024.