Paper: SFT 2035 SALISBURY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST Title: Transport Strategy & Green Travel Update Purpose of the Paper: To present an update on the Trust Transport Strategy and present a range of proposals related to Green Travel initiatives and car parking. Executive Summary: The Transport Strategy was approved by the Trust Board in 2004. The Board agreed to receive annual reports on the Transport Strategy, including Green Travel planning and car parking. Progress and developments within the Green Travel objectives include promoting awareness, barrier controls on car parks, encouraging walking, cycling, car sharing and use of public transport. It is proposed that car parking charges for visitors and patients should not be increased above the current prices and the pricing structure should remain the same It is proposed that an increase of 2.25% be applied to staff purchased bays. It is proposed that the system of allowing disabled drivers to park free, including the barrier controlled car park, will continue with an additional validation machine to be sited in car park 8, when the Car Park Attendants Hut is installed. It is proposed that exemptions and season tickets, in line with the Department of Health advice, for long-term patients, visitors and carers will continue as at present, with improved publicity being made available to wards and departments within the Trust and GP surgeries. To approve the increase in the number of disabled parking spaces in car park 3 by 11 to meet the demand of disabled users. This will also address the issues we have had with Link drivers experiencing parking difficulties in the Link designated spaces. It is proposed that the Trust Board agrees that the principle of charging for staff car parking should be explored further. It is proposed to control access to car park 1 (predominantly purchased permits) by the installation of a barrier, thus allowing the subscription to this area to be increased by filling the empty spaces while people are on leave etc. The proposals set out in this paper were approved in principle by the Joint Board of Directors at its meeting on 13 th November 2009. 1
Actions required by the Board: (i) note progress and developments within the Green Travel Plan and that the Plan is formally put to the Transport Strategy Steering Group annually for review; (ii) approve the recommended nil increase in prices for patient and visitor parking at SDH. (iii) to note that when a Car Park Attendants Hut is installed in car park 8, an additional validation machine will be installed there for the ease of disabled visitors, (expected early 2010) (iv) approve the increase of disabled car parking spaces in car park 3 from 19 to 30 in total; (v) approve the recommended 2.25% increase for staff purchased bays, with effect from 1 st April 2010. (vi) (vii) consider the proposal for charging to park for all staff; support the proposal for the installation of a barrier control on car park 1. Ron Perry Facilities Director 2
Introduction The Transport Strategy was originally approved by the Trust Board in 2004 when the Board agreed to receive annual reports on the Transport Strategy, including Green Travel planning and car parking. 1.Green Travel Planning Background A revised Green Travel Plan was approved in 2008 with the aim of promoting sustainable transport choices and reducing solo occupancy car journeys. The Trust s Green Travel Plan was developed via the Transport Strategy Steering Group which includes representation from a variety of stakeholders including Wiltshire Council, Foundation Trust Governors, Staff Side Representatives, Link Schemes, the Patient and Public Involvement Forum and the Customer Care Department The Travel Plan is available on the hospital website :- http://iisintfin/website/staff/policies/businessandprovisionofservices/index.asp and includes a detailed action plan covering the following areas: Promoting awareness Facilities / parking management Encouraging walking, cycling and motorcycling Promoting car sharing Encouraging use of public transport Reducing car use and promoting greener work travel Cycle to work scheme Progress and Developments within Green Travel Objectives Progress towards objectives outlined in the Green Travel Action Plan are as follows: Promoting awareness: The Travel Plan has been published and is available on the Intranet. Cycle and Car Share Schemes are being promoted through the use of Broadcasts and eye-catching posters. This has resulted in a current uptake of 20 people on the Cycle to Work Scheme for October/November 2009. In 2010 we will focus our attention on increasing car share users Facilities / parking management: Barrier controls have been installed in staff car parks 9 and 10. 3
Encouraging walking, cycling and motorcycling: Participation in local walking and cycling Forums through ongoing Trust representation. Promotion of the Salisbury District Hospital walking routes in conjunction with the Staff Club. The ongoing Halfords/Salisbury Hospital Cycle to Work Scheme which since its launch in July 2008 has seen 45 members of staff purchase new bicycles. A salary sacrifice scheme is available to all employees purchasing a bicycle under this initiative. Green Travel Packs have been circulated to wards and departments. These packs include leaflets about walking, cycling and car sharing schemes, together with maps of the Trust, indicating where showers and cycle stands are situated. Showers are available for staff. Promoting car sharing: The Trust now has a full Intranet link with the Wiltshire Car Share Scheme website, which staff from Salisbury hospital are able to join. This will continue to assist in the reduction of travel to the hospital site and thereby reduce congestion. Within the Trust, 76 people have registered and there are 6 teams using the scheme. We will be focussing our attention on increasing the usage of car sharing in 2010. Encouraging use of public transport: Bus passes encourage the regular use of public transport, thus reducing site congestion. Through continued partnership working with the Wilts and Dorset Bus company, the Trust is able to offer discounted weekly, monthly and annual bus passes to staff and timetables and bus routes are always available. The Trust also provides interest-free annual season ticket loans to staff. This benefit is also used as a recruitment incentive. 2. Car Parking Update Background The adequate provision of on-site car parking is a high priority for patients, visitors and staff. The latest patient and visitor barrier controlled car park opened in May 2007 and has resulted in a substantial easing of the parking difficulties for patients and visitors. Based on comparative information for 2007/2008, the Trust has very good provision of parking facilities vs. its peer group, with 3.4 spaces per bed vs. an average of 2.33 spaces [1] as is illustrated by the graph below. NB Unlike 4
many of our comparator sites, we serve a rural area and have an out of town location. Trust Chart: ACUTE -MEDIUM - 2008/2009 Generated on: 15/9/2009 14:05:31 Total Car Parking Spaces per Available Bed (No./Bed) 4.00 3.50 RNZ 3.00 2.50 (No./Bed) 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 RKE RJ6 RCB RAX RG3 RC9 RPL RDZ RWJ RDU RQ8 RDE RPA RNS RA2 RFS RN3 RGN Note : RNZ = Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Source total parking spaces per available beds for medium Acute Trusts outside London Estates Return Information Collection Patient and Visitor Charges Car parking charges were last increased on 1 st November 2007. Income from car parking is currently estimated at 680,000 income for 2009/10, this is used to support Trust services for patients. An inflationary increase of 2.4% on patient and visitor car parking charges would yield less than 17,000 in a full year which would be reduced by costs associated with new signage and recalibration of parking machines. Having reviewed our charges and compared these to other organisations, it is therefore recommended that the current level of car parking charges are maintained as detailed in the table below. 5
SDH Current Price 2009/10 Up to 1 hour 1.50 Up to 2 hours 2.20 Up to 3 hours 3.00 Up to 4 hours 4.00 Up to 5 hours 5.00 5 24 hours 6.00 In respect of clinic delays, beyond the patient s control, the Trust will continue to validate tickets so as the patient only pays a nominal fee for parking ( 2). Comparable Charges of other Trusts It can be seen from the tables below that our car parking charges are broadly in line with comparable Trusts and Salisbury city parking. Surplus revenue from car parking is reinvested in improving site facilities and patient care. Royal United Bath Royal Hampshire County (Win) First 20 mins Free Up to 1 hour 1.80 30 mins 1.00 Up to 2 hours 2.40 Up to 2 hours 2.60 Up to 3 hours 3.20 Up to 4 hours 3.70 Up to 4 hours N/A Up to 8 hours 6.30 Up to 6 hours 6.30 Southampton University Poole General Hospital Hospitals Up to 1 hour 1.80 Up to 2 hours 1.40 Up to 3 hours 3.50 Up to 3 hours 2.00 Up to 4 hours 4.50 Up to 4 hours 3.20 Up to 5 hours 5.50 Up to 6 hours 5.00 Up to 6 hours 6.50 Up to 24 hours 7.00 24 hours N/A Royal Bournemouth Hospital Salisbury City Parking (Maltings/Central (South) Up to 2 hours 1.00 0 1 hours 1.00 Up to 4 hours 2.00 1 to 2 hours 2.00 Up to 6 hours 5.00 2 to 3 hours 2.80 Up to 11 hours 7.00 3 to 4 hours 3.30 Overnight 6pm 7am 1.00 4 to 5 hours 4.00 Over 5 hours 6.00 6
Parking for Disabled Drivers There are currently 81 designated disabled spaces on site, this number will be increased to 91. This is following a parking space review in August 2009 which highlighted a lack of disabled spaces in car park 3. The additional spaces will be created by reducing the number of drop off places within car park 3, which are currently being used as pay and display spaces, as they are situated at the furthest end of the car park from the Main Entrance. In addition Blue Badge holders are entitled to park in any parking bay with the exception of ambulance bays, purchased permit bays, Link Scheme bays and hatch marked areas. Blue Badge holders can park free of charge in any of the pay & display car parks. If they use the barrier-controlled car park, they can take their entry ticket together with their Blue Badge to the Transport Help Desk at Main Reception who will validate their ticket to enable free exit from the car park. We intend to continue with this successful policy. In addition permission has been granted for the siting of a Car Park Attendants Hut in car park 8 we will install a further validation machine in this hut for the ease of disabled visitors this will be as well as the introduction of 3 disabled spaces in this car park. This should be completed by the end of March 2010. Extended hours cover in the car parks from 17.00hrs ~ 21.00hrs has been running for a trial period since July 2009. It has improved customer care by having an attendant available for patient and visitor assistance, also by resolving problems with the parking pay machines and barriers, it has greatly reduced the need to raise the barriers which resulted in loss of revenue for the Trust. In order to maintain the improved service the extension of hours will be made permanent. Exemptions & Season Tickets In line with DH advice, we currently offer discounted weekly season tickets at a rate of 5.00 per week for visitors of long-term patients, carers and visitors who satisfy the relevant criteria. This information will be publicised in the car parks at the payment points. This will also be advertised through mail drops of posters to GP Surgeries. Free visitor permits will continue to be issued to visiting Chaplains, Contractors and the Police. Staff Purchased Bays In the spirit of the Trust s Green Travel Plan, an inflationary (2.25%) increase in the cost of staff purchased bays, i.e. bays will now cost 416. It is proposed that most of car park 1, which is predominately staff purchased permits, will become barrier controlled. This will allow for the volume of permit holders to be increased as there are always a number of spaces left empty due to part time workers, annual leave etc. These could be called Staff 7
Frequent Flyer Permits. A charge would be made for these Frequent Flyer permits. (A space would not be guaranteed). This would allow for the relocation of a minimum of 10 existing staff from other car parks in the Trust to have purchased permits in car park 1, freeing up spaces in other locations. The charge for these Frequent Flyer permits could be lower to reflect that a space is not guaranteed. The charge could be 350-400. A capital bid has been submitted for 2010/2011 allocation for the purchase of barriers. Charging for Staff At the Joint Board of Directors meeting on 13 th November 2009 members were asked to discuss in principle the charging of all staff to park on the Trust site. Following a discussion, the Joint Board supported further work being done on this proposal specifically on the principle and practicality of such a scheme.the Trust Board is asked to endorse this work being done. 3. Next Steps There will be a further review of the Transport Strategy & Green Travel Plan in the autumn of 2010 with a further report to the Trust Board in December 2010. 8