Patients call for extra parking for new wards
Frimley Health NHS Foundation TrustPatients say a new extension to Frimley Park Hospital is "pretty pointless" without additional parking arrangements.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust opened an extension to the site in April, adding diagnostic facilities and 74 new beds.
Rosemary Baker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the lack of parking "makes visits very stressful".
The NHS trust said it plans to add 40 new parking spaces at the site in 2025 and the new wards provide "much-needed extra capacity".
A spokesperson added: "Emergency situations can lead to unpredictable spikes in visitors and so we always advise patients and visitors to consider all travel options, including public transport and planning enough time ahead of appointments."
The £49m extension took 16 months to complete and will also include a dedicated breast care outpatient unit once it is fully open later in 2025.
'It's so stressful'
While hospital users have welcomed the extension, others have raised concerns about insufficient parking arrangements.
Stuart Cross said the extra capacity is "pretty pointless if you can't park anywhere".
"Every time I have an appointment at this hospital it's so stressful trying to park," he said.
"It just adds to the stress of being unwell and having to go to the hospital."
Mandi Coxall agreed there were "not enough spaces before this was built".
The hospital's planned parking upgrades include LED lighting, improved bay markings, and additional drop off bays, in addition to the extra spaces.
The Trust said in March that new spaces will be available once the new lighting is installed, expected to be between June and August.
The government has pledged to start rebuilding Frimley Park Hospital at a cost of up to £2bn by 2030, as about two thirds of the building is made from unstable reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac).
A site for the replacement hospital is expected to be announced in May.
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