ESNEFT is changing its approach to travel to better meet the needs of patients, visitors and carers.
Over the past few years, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals, has successfully raised money to modernise its buildings. The Trust has also invested in new facilities for patients – the new breast unit and children’s ward at Ipswich Hospital, and the Dame Clare Marx Building and new endoscopy unit at Colchester Hospital are just a few examples.
More patients than ever before are now being seen at both hospitals and staff numbers have grown to unprecedented numbers. All of this is good news for the communities of east Suffolk and north Essex.
However, as patient services have expanded, some car parking space has been lost.
Teams at ESNEFT want to address concerns that have been raised locally in a bid to ease anxieties about being able to find a space to park when travelling to the Trust’s hospitals – whether that’s as a patient or visitor.
Nick Hulme, ESNEFT Chief Executive said: “We have listened to what our patients, carers and visitors have told us about our approach to travel. We need to make some changes and provide our communities with a stress-free experience.
“Our multi-million-pound investment programme, including the Dame Clare Marx Building in Colchester and our new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre in Ipswich, will significantly improve healthcare for local people.
“However, we know that the number of car parking spaces on each hospital site has reduced because of these and other new buildings, causing anxiety and upset due to the time it can take to find a parking space.
“We also know that because of the increased demand for our services, car parking has become extremely limited and at peak times it is unlikely that you will find a parking space, so the best alternative is to use local park and ride services if you can.
“We are committed to providing high quality care and experiences for our patients, carers and visitors. This includes doing all we can to improve travel to our sites.”
Using park and ride to travel to ESNEFT hospitals
The Trust is encouraging patients and visitors to use park and ride services to travel to Colchester and Ipswich hospitals if they can.
Colchester Hospital patients with appointments can travel on the Colchester park and ride service, run by Essex County Council, for £1.50. They just need to show their appointment letter to the bus driver. ESNEFT is now proactively working with its partners at First Bus to launch a similar offer in Ipswich.
Nick added: “We strongly encourage our patients and visitors to use park and ride if they can. A new travel options leaflet is sent out with appointment letters for Ipswich patients and details about the park and ride service are also included in appointment letters for Colchester patients.
“As part of the Trust’s Green Plan it is our intention, over time, to increase the number of parking spaces available for patients and the amount of disabled parking bays on our sites, too.”
ESNEFT staff and volunteers are regularly urged to use park and ride services in Colchester and Ipswich too. It is free for them to do so.
Parking at ESNEFT hospitals
The new approach sets out increases in charges for patient and visitor parking at Colchester and Ipswich hospitals and the Primary Care Centre in Colchester. This is so that the Trust can increase the number of car parking spaces available in future and pay for the upkeep of its car parks.
The increased charges for patients and visitors from Monday 11 November 2024 will be:
- Up to 1 hour – £3 (up from £2.20)
- Up to 2 hours – £4 (up from £3.30)
- Up to 4 hours – £5 (up from £4.50)
- Up to 5 hours – £7 (up from £5.50)
- Up to 8 hours – £10 (up from £6.50)
- 3-day ticket – £12 (up from £8)
- 5-day ticket – £16 (up from £12)
- Weekly ticket – £20 (up from £14)
Free car parking for 30 minutes (this is up to 60 minutes at the Primary Care Centre in Colchester) will still be available to everyone for drop-offs and pick-ups, and charges do not apply to patients and visitors who are entitled to free parking.
Car parking will remain free for disabled drivers, people attending cancer and radiotherapy appointments and for people receiving frequent outpatient care (for patients who need to attend hospital at least three times a month, for at least three months) and parents of sick children staying in hospital overnight.
Although car parking is not free for all visitors, the Trust’s daily charges are reduced through our three, five and seven-day permits to support relatives of patients who are in hospital for longer lengths of time.
The new charges have been checked and compared to similar hospitals across the east of England to make sure the fees charged at ESNEFT are consistent.
Travel headlines for staff
The Trust’s new approach to travel includes continued free car parking at Colchester and Ipswich park and ride sites for all ESNEFT staff and volunteers. It also provides substantial bus and rail travel discounts.
ESNEFT colleagues can benefit from 50% off bus season tickets and 10% off train season tickets, as well as 40% off the cost of a new bike through its cycle to work scheme.
Parking at Colchester and Ipswich hospitals will continue to be free for those who are unable to use the free parking options and for all colleagues working night shifts, or who have a disability.
Staff car parking charges will also be increasing from Monday 11 November at both Colchester and Ipswich hospitals.
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