Forum Topic

St.Georges Tooting.

Went there with my other half yesterday, they were quick and efficient, couldn't fault them. But the parking charges in their big new car park was dreadful, only there about 1hr 15min.  £7.40. This is rather over the top I think. Goodness knows how much for a day or even half a day.

Barbara Stevens ● 5d22 Comments

https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/during-your-visit/car-parking-charges/It's really worthwhile reading the St Georges info about visiting before visiting.  It explains what parking is available why and where and how you can pay.

Philippa Bond ● 3d

The St Georges website seems clear on where you can park if you have a Blue Badge in and around the hospital.  If everybody chose to drive everywhere regardless of whether they needed to or not then there would bee even more congestion on the roads and never be enough car parking space for everyone to park.  If you are able to walk and use the bus - good on you - keeping moving is very important and good for you and you'll probably have to sit and wait once there - and sometimes the waiting in a hospital is long.Unfortunately hospital transport where it exists doesn't work for many as it can easily turn into a whole day out with the added problems that can cause - food/medication/loo.  It can be complicated to book. It can be a good community event though if you talk to fellow travellers!It's a shame about Zipcar and amazing the different rents that Councils charge the company - but apparently there are others.

Philippa Bond ● 3d

Mr Hawkes. You ask who "they" are. I realise floating pronouns can sometimes be an ambiguous problem but in this instance most other rational posters have put it into context as being the hospital management? Another's of your time wasting whataboutery?Of course you're making the assumption public transport is available. I can remember a few years ago having to pick up a Zipcar at 2am in the morning so my wide and I could get to St George's (I don't think there's a night bus from Putney to St George's?); to be honest I don't think parking charges were top of our worries on that occasion. (Something I couldn't do now with Zipcar announcing their withdrawal from the UK; still I suppose there's Uber...) On another occasion I ended up getting the all night Northern line to Waterloo then the last SWR train to Putney in the early hours as buses and District Line had stopped.I guess you and I are fortunate in that we're both mobile and reasonably fit in our retirement? Others aren't as fortunate, I have less fortunate friends who have/had debilitating ailments such as Parkinsons, Lupus, PSP ... Perhaps some compassion for others less fortunate might be in order?

Michael Ixer ● 3d

Ms Stevens'Mr. Hawkes, you are a very miserable person, no thought for other people only what suites you'.And how would you describe yourself ?Very positively by the sound of it: compassionate and always concerned with the well being of others whatever it costs you.Very Pollyanna-ish.But what is being discussed is how much of this cost is being transferred to others and whether they deserve to bear it.

John Hawkes ● 4d

Yes, exactly, miserable is the right word for him. He digs himself into a little hole, and then keeps digging. Ah well, what can you do? For what it’s worth, Michael Ixer’s suggestion of controlling the car park so patients don’t pay is eminently sensible; they do it in Sainsburys Wandsworth for customers and is very straightforward; go in, collect your ticket, sort it out afterwards; no panic, no fuss. It’s called consideration for others.A foreign concept for some!

Gerry Boyce ● 4d

Mr. Hawkes, you are a very miserable person, no thought for other people only what suites you.

Barbara Stevens ● 4d

Mr Ixer'One would have thought with modern technology they could have a process whereby if you were a genuine visitor to the hospital one could present a ticket or be given a code to get a rebate or refund?'How much do we already spend on the NHS for actual medical treatment ?What would this cost and who are 'they' ?Let's get back to the point.If you can, use public transport (Ed Miliband would support that).If you genuinely can't through disability get a 'blue badge' and park for free.Or get an Uber or mini-cab.If not pay the parking fee.How often are people attending George's ?This is a first world issue is it not ?

John Hawkes ● 4d

https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/during-your-visit/car-parking-charges/Yes, this is an expensive one but you are lucky that you managed to find a space as you can't always in hospitals and that is really stressful hanging around/driving around when you have an apptmt.  There also often aren't enough Blue Badge spaces - or drop off points - or wheelchairs by the entrances.  I used to have to walk ward after ward and floor after floor in one hospital to find a wheelchair for my FIL.  One of us walking looking for the wheelchair and the other then trying to park the car after dropping off.  We eventually had to buy a wheelchair specifically for dealing with the long corridors which don't always have good signposting for departments.

Philippa Bond ● 5d

Worth noting that if you’re unfortunate enough to be eligible for a blue badge you get to park for free at St George’s and indeed any other NHS hospital. In some cases pre-registration is required but the principle is established. I find the idea of paying to visit a hospital (if you can’t get there on a bus) quite wrong and as Mike Ixer says, a system of verifying genuine users should deter anyone just looking for a bit of free parking. It’s bad enough needing to go to a hospital in the first place but then to have to pay for the privilege is just not fair!

Jonathan Callaway ● 5d

Mr Hawkes. Some people in wheelchairs or with walking problems have specially adapted cars that mean they can drive not walk. However, one assumes that these people have blue badges and St George's has disabled parking spaces? Or the person with walking difficulties might be a passenger rather than the driver. Try thinking outside of your comfort box :-)

Michael Ixer ● 5d

Yes my other half could have gone on his own, but I said I would go to keep him company. He didn't want to wait for a bus as had to go back to work after.

Barbara Stevens ● 5d

One would have thought with modern technology they could have a process whereby if you were a genuine visitor to the hospital one could present a ticket or be given a code to get a rebate or refund?At one time there was a car park near Covent Garden which gave a rebate if one was visiting the ROH. (I only used it a couple of times when I  was taking my elderly mother to the ballet.) If it was possible a decade or so ago with paper tickets, it should be easier with today's smartphone apps?

Michael Ixer ● 5d

Boycie'Well said, Barbara. Justifying outrageous parking charges on those that can’t use public transport and rely on their cars is nonsense.'One can always park in the cemetery close by.And contemplate one's mortality !But as I said before, unless the car park is supervised and perhaps one has to show an appointment slip, it will be abused.BTW what ailment might people suffer from if they can't get on a bus but can drive a car and walk a not inconsiderable distance from car park to many parts of this vast hospital ?

John Hawkes ● 5d

Ms Stevens'Well, get on your bus John, not everybody walks great. Long enough walking down the long corridors. But your OK Jack, oh sorry John.'I use a stick and don't walk easily.One just has to take it steady - one step at a time !

John Hawkes ● 5d

Hi Steve, yes we thought of that too late about parking outside, which we gave done before. But we got a bit confused as we were not sure even where the car park was as all changed. Apart from the other half never looked till we got there what department we needed.

Barbara Stevens ● 5d

Street parking around there (e.g. Hoyle Road, Effort Street) is quite easy and I believe a lot less expensive than their car park, and easier to get into. Free before 09:30 if you have an early appointment.

Steve Poole ● 5d

Exactly! Well said, Barbara. Justifying outrageous parking charges on those that can’t use public transport and rely on their cars is nonsense.

Gerry Boyce ● 5d

Well, get on your bus John, not everybody walks great. Long enough walking down the long corridors. But your OK Jack, oh sorry John.

Barbara Stevens ● 5d

Ms Stevens'But the parking charges in their big new car park was dreadful, only there about 1hr 15min.  £7.40. This is rather over the top I think.'This is just an example of how parking at public utilities has to be charged.If any cheaper then healthy Joe Public would use it - all day and every day.Note the number of tower blocks of flats nearby.I am a regular George's attendee.It has a good range of buses stopping outside.I recommend the 493.Once there the quality of medical attention is first rate.

John Hawkes ● 5d

Utterly disgusting charges for parking; no justification at all.Good to hear that the NHS , once again, performed very well.

Gerry Boyce ● 5d

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Barbara Stevens ● 5d

Also problems paying at their machines afterwards, went backwards and forwards from one machine to the other as didn't seem to work properly, also you could hardly read when it came out. looked blank.

Barbara Stevens ● 5d