Extension of Traffic Management across South Eastern Trust Hospital sites. Consultation

Transcription

1 Extension of Traffic Management across South Eastern Trust Hospital sites Consultation September 2014

2 Contents Page number Introduction and Background Strategic Context Option Consideration and Appraisal Pre-consultation Equality screening Recommendations and Conclusion How to respond to the consultation

3 How to receive a copy of this document If you want to receive a copy of this consultation document please contact: Tania Gibson Strategic & Capital Development Department South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Kelly House Ulster Hospital Phone: Or, you can consultation@setrust.hscni.net If you ask, we can provide any of our official documents in a choice of languages or a range of other formats, including: in large print; on audio cassette; in Braille; on computer disc; in ethnic-minority languages; in easy-read form; in DAISY; and an electronic version. (This is not a full list.) You can also find this document on our website, 3

4 1.0 Introduction and Background 1.1 Introduction The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust vision is to be a leading provider of health and social care for our patients, clients and carers. We will achieve this, in partnership with others, by making sure that our services are safe and effective, improving and providing a positive outcome and experience. This document is concerned with the extension of traffic management provision across South Eastern Trust sites Increasing levels of car ownership and an aging population requiring increased medical intervention has resulted in greater demand for car parking spaces. The Trust wishes to provide a long term car parking solution which takes into consideration local conditions, policies and regional guidance to ensure optimal utilisation of car parking provision for staff, patients and visitors. The South Eastern Trust (SET) proposes to introduce a charge, at an appropriate level for car parking, across the Ards Hospital, Lagan Valley Hospital and the Downe/Downshire Hospital sites at a rate consistent with the Ulster Hospital for staff and to members of the public. Our Aim is To provide long term, safe, secure and affordable car parking across all SET sites. To reduce on-site vehicular traffic, queuing and congestion thus improving traffic flow on our sites, particularly for emergency vehicles under blue light conditions. To reduce the queuing problem on Trust sites, which will ease the anxieties and frustrations of patients and visitors attending hospital services. To reduce the number of delayed arrivals at hospital appointments To ensure that vehicular traffic on sites is managed appropriately thus minimising the risk of harm to pedestrians. To reduce the number of complaints in relation to car parking To generate an income that reflects a reasonable balance between the perceived needs of the car park users, and, given the current financial climate, the costs of providing and maintaining parking facilities (e.g. Road surfaces, security, lighting, car parking equipment). 4

5 In this consultation document, the Trust is seeking views on the extension of car parking charges to Ards Hospital, Lagan Valley Hospital and the Downe/Downshire Hospital sites in order to provide traffic management services to all of these locations. Very importantly, this document also tells you how you can have your say on the Trust s preferred option. This document will explain our plans and then outlines how you can put forward your views on the preferred choice for the location of the service. 2.0 Strategic Context In 2011, the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) consulted on future car parking charges in the Health and Social Care (HSC) sector which recommended more extensive and widespread charging, including extending staff charging, and charging across other HSC sites. A review of the guidance was undertaken in June 2012 with the recent publication of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety s Policy for Car Parking Provision and Management. The Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan (covering the period 2002 to 2015) states that in order to help reduce transport congestion there is an intention to evaluate and develop measures which may include car-parking levies by employers on employees. Therefore charging HSC staff for parking is likely to become more common and standardised in the future. Charging for car parking is used to pay-back on investment and helps to cover the cost of the provision and maintenance of car parking including associated security, operational requirements and administration costs. Any surplus will continue to be reinvested in patient care and services. In line with the recent Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety s Policy for Car Parking Provision and Management 2012 the Trust proposes to introduce charges to conform to the principles set out in the above policy across all major Trust sites. 5

6 2.1 Current Position The South Eastern Trust is a Community and Acute Hospitals Trust that provides integrated health and social services to the population of Ards, Down, Lisburn and North Down Council areas serving a resident population of 344,434 (source: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) 2009 Mid-Year Population Estimates). In addition, acute services at the Ulster Hospital serve a wider population of circa 440,000, which includes parts of East Belfast. The Trust has an annual budget of approximately 502m and directly employs approximately 12,000 staff. The table below highlights the anticipated growth within the Trust s catchment area by 2020, and the percentage change in the Trust population between 2010 and Change in SEHSCT Population Projections 2020 Ards Population Projections 2020 North Down Population Projections 2020 Down Population Projections 2020 Lisburn Population Projections 2020 Change in SEHSCT Population Profile SEHSCT Population Projections 2020 SEHSCT % Change in population 2010 to 2020 Age ,962 14,491 15,505 27,399 73, ,804 6,753 7,796 13,026 35, ,784 19,443 19,426 33,701 91, ,285 21,316 18,941 31,106 93, ,402 18,184 13,429 21,028 70, Total 82,237 80,187 75, , , The table above demonstrates that the Trust will have to respond to an increasing and aged population with the main demographic changes anticipated in the older population. The Trust will experience a 24.3% increase in this age group in comparison with regional growth of 23.35%. The number of cars wishing to park on hospital grounds will continue to increase over the next decade or so. This allied with any growth in hospital services or capacity in car usage will exert further pressure on the finite number of spaces currently available on our sites. Currently the Trust is responding to numerous complaints regarding car parking across our main sites. 6

7 In addition Blue Light vehicles are continuing to experience difficulties when accessing the Ards, LVH and Downe / Downshire sites due to road congestion caused by inappropriately parked vehicles. The Trust is working in partnership with Translink to provide integrated public transport solutions for our patients, visitors and staff. This will include the introduction of a regular and direct bus service from the Ulster Hospital Site to Downpatrick via Comber and onwards to both the Downe and Downshire Hospitals. 2.2 Proposed Harmonisation of Staff Tariffs The Trust recognises that introducing any changes to car parking tariffs for staff across the Trust will prove unpopular. However, the Trust must also take into consideration the maintenance and running costs of its infrastructure of automated systems, processes and mechanisms required to manage and run the car parks along with any resource implications such as staffing, security and administration. The issue of staff tariffs should have several guiding principles: The tariff should be set at a reasonable level. Staff should be treated equitably across the Trust. There should be recognition of differentiating between full time and part time staff when considering appropriate tariffs. Charges must generate an income that reflects a reasonable balance between the perceived needs of the legitimate car park users, and, given the current financial climate, the costs of providing and maintaining parking facilities (e.g. Road surfaces, security, lighting, ticket barriers). 2.3 Proposed Harmonisation of Tariffs for Visitors It is important, where possible, to provide equitable parking solutions for visitors and patients, however those patients and visitors who are eligible for free or reduced tariffs must remain unaffected by changes to tariffs. (See Exemptions, Section 3.4 Table 1) 7

8 3.0 Options 1. Do nothing. Maintain traffic management at the Ulster Hospital only, including security and car parking charges, with no traffic management arrangements in place for Ards, Lagan Valley Hospital or Downe Hospital/Downshire. 2. Introduce traffic management arrangements at Ards, Lagan Valley and Downe Hospitals and charge parking only to staff users. 3. Introduce traffic management arrangements at Ards, Lagan Valley and Downe Hospitals and charge parking only to service users and patients. 4. Introduce traffic management arrangements at Ards, Lagan Valley and Downe Hospitals and charge parking to all users of car parking facilities. 3.1 Option Appraisal A key component of any formal option appraisal is the assessment of the nonfinancial benefits that are likely to accrue from the options under consideration. The following sections provide a description of the process used to assess the potential benefits of the short-listed options together with the outcomes of the exercise. The option appraisal was carried out by the Project Team and subsequently approved by the Project Board. The Project Team includes representatives from senior management, corporate functions including Finance, Human Resources, Patient Experience, Strategic and Capital Development, Estates and Equality. The group s aim was to: Establish a common understanding and agreed approach to the benefits appraisal process; Review and describe the list of options to be evaluated; Develop the list of criteria against which each of the options would be evaluated; Rank and weight the criteria using established mechanisms; Score the options against the agreed criteria using the assigned weightings. 8

9 The process was monitored by the Project Board whose role was to ensure that the benefits appraisal was robust and had been conducted rigorously. The benefits appraisal process has three main stages: Identification of the benefits criteria; Weighting of the benefits criteria; and Scoring of the short-listed options against the benefits criteria. Benefit criteria Strategic Direction Sustainability Accessibility Affordability Strategic Direction The Trust has been issued with a strategic direction through regional guidance by the DHSSPS and compliance with this strategic guidance is both relevant and appropriate. Weighting = 30 Sustainability This criterion was considered to be of key importance in ensuring that any solution must be able to provide services that can be sustained in the medium to long term. Traffic management arrangements should comply with current standards of space, presentation and suitability of function and must offer sufficient physical capacity to meet needs of the service. Weighting = 30 marks 9

10 Accessibility This criterion was considered important in that it ensured that clients and staff will have access to car parking and security on Trust hospital sites and to have access that is safe and secure for patients, service users, clients, visitors and staff. The criterion also includes consideration of ability to pay for car parking services. Weighting = 20 marks Affordability This criterion relates to the affordability of the options, in that the provision of traffic management and security should not incur a loss to the Trust, which could negatively impact on the delivery of health and social care services at Trust hospital sites. For the purposes of this appraisal, affordability is based on costs associated with both implementing and sustaining traffic management. Weighting = 20 marks 10

11 Table of non-financial benefit criteria Benefit criteria Weight Option1 Weighted Option 2 Weighted Option 3 Weighted Option 4 Weighted score score score score Strategic Direction Sustainability Accessibility Affordability Total

12 Each option was scored out of 10 against each criterion. A summary of discussions is provided below. Strategic Direction Option 1 scored low (3) in terms of strategic direction as it does not ensure that the provision of traffic management would not impact upon funding for patient services. In the absence of charging for car parking, access and security could not be guaranteed as directed in HSC Hospital Car Parking Provision and Management. Option 2 scores slightly higher (4) than option 1 as charges would be introduced in order to facilitate the development of traffic management systems; however it would not clearly ensure that misuse of the car park (particularly if near a city or town centre, railway station etc) by those using the site for free or cheap parking will be avoided as stated in Departmental guidance. Even on sites which are not in town centres, staff may park in patient areas; it could be difficult to monitor inappropriate usage. Option 3 scores lowest (2) as it would disadvantage patients and service users more than staff, who would also benefit from enhanced traffic management across the three sites. The Trust would not consider this a balanced approach to the needs of a patients, service users, visitors and staff and considers that service users would be likely to be worse off. Option 4 scored the highest (6) as it would offer a balance between staff and service users. The Department has not issued a clear direction in respect of who should pay for charges, but this option was deemed to offer the greatest degree of fairness and a balance between the needs and circumstances of staff and service users. Introducing car parking charges to all site users would offer a better opportunity to guarantee safety and security as outlined in the HSC Hospital Car Parking Provision and Management. Sustainability Option 1 scored low (1) on sustainability. At present on the Ards, Lagan Valley and Downpatrick sites, patients are struggling to find parking and access to spaces is a significant difficulty, which varies at different times through the day. There is limited provision for managing misuse of parking facilities. The current system is not sustainable at present; with added pressures, this is likely to become worse. Option 2 scores low (3) as it would be difficult to protect patient spaces from either staff or the general public parking in designated patient areas. Option 3 scores slightly higher (4) in that protecting patient spaces would offer a slightly higher degree of sustainability. A differentiated approach between patients, visitors and staff would not offer a high level of sustainability over the long term. Option 4 scores highest (8) in that it would offer a more long-term solution to traffic management over the three sites. The project team acknowledges that traffic management paid for through charges to staff and users does not eliminate 12

13 all issues on the Ulster site; however it does offer a long-term approach to implementing and improving the service. Accessibility Option 1 scored medium (4) as there is reasonable access to the sites at Ards, Lagan Valley and the Downe at present. Option 2 scored low (3) as it would not ensure access to the parking spaces, particularly for patients and visitors. The enhancement to security would be marginal, and further compromised if staff and the general public park in spaces designated for patient and visitor use. Option 3 scores mid-range (5) as charging patients and visitors would ensure access and security to spaces for them. Option 4 scores highly (7) on accessibility as it would introduce an improvement in the quality, security and access of facilities available on the Ards, Lagan Valley and Downe sites and would allow designated access for particular users. This option would prevent misuse and provide for the development of enhanced traffic management and security. The issue of whether patients or staff would be in a position to pay charges is an issue which impacts on the accessibility of all of the do-something options. Mitigation in the form of parking exemptions for some service users would apply, but this remains a consideration in terms of setting the level of charges. Experience of charging both staff and users at the Ulster Hospital has shown that it is affordable but that discretion can and should be applied. Affordability Option 1 scored low (1) as the Trust cannot maintain traffic management and security on the Ards, Lagan Valley and Downe sites without additional revenue. This may impact on patient services if traffic management is maintained at its present level. Option 2 scores higher (3) as it would contribute to a slight enhancement of traffic management arrangements, and option 3 scores slightly higher again (4) as more revenue is collected through patients and service users than staff. Option 4 scores highest (7) introducing charges to both service users and staff would ensure that parking areas and traffic management systems would be able to maintained for both groups. This is predicated on charging being introduced in line with current charging arrangements at the Ulster Hospital. 13

14 3.2 Analysis of the Results Option Description Total score Ranking 1 Do nothing Introduce traffic management arrangements at Ards, Lagan Valley Hospital and Downe Hospital, and charge parking only to staff users. 3 Introduce traffic management arrangements at Ards, Lagan Valley Hospital and Downe, and charge parking only to service users and patients. 4 Introduce traffic management arrangements at Ards, Lagan Valley Hospital and Downe Hospitals and charge parking to all users of car parking Conclusion of Option Appraisal Option 4 has been evaluated as the preferred option ie Introduce traffic management arrangements at Ards, Lagan Valley Hospital and Downe Hospitals and charge parking to all users of car parking. The Trust believes that this option will enhance access and security to Trust hospital sites. Cognisance must be given to the principles of treating staff equitably, being affordable and taking into consideration local conditions. In addition charges must generate an income that reflects a reasonable balance between the perceived needs of the legitimate car park users, and, given the current financial climate, the costs of providing and maintaining parking facilities ( eg road surfaces, security, lighting, ticket barriers). For this reason the Trust would propose charging staff the same rates as those who use the Ulster Hospital car parking facilities. However, the Trust would consider the introduction of a concessionary tariff for public car parking on the Ards and Downpatrick sites for the first three hours of stay that generally reflects municipal rates for this duration in these areas. 14

15 3.4 Exemptions At present, under regional policy, many patients suffering from cancer and other serious long term conditions are entitled to free parking at hospitals. Exemptions for car parking were established under the 2008 car parking guidance and, under the current proposals, they will remain in place, but are not intended to be extended further. Exemptions may apply in the following circumstances, as shown in Table 1 Table 1 Guidance on South Eastern Trust Exemptions Care Path Application of Free Car Parking Patient Next of Relative Visitor Kin/Partner Radiotherapy Yes Yes, if Yes, if N/A Chemotherapy transporting patient transporting patient Renal dialysis Yes As Above As Above N/A Critical Care/High N/A Yes Discretionary Discretionary Dependency Relatives of long stay patients N/A Discretionary Discretionary Discretionary 4.0 Pre-Consultation The Trust has conducted pre-engagement with Trust Service User Forums. Options were discussed at a forum meeting in June Service user forum members supported the introduction of charges as long as they are fair and improve access. Informal discussions have been held with Trust staff about the introduction of parking charges. 5.0 Equality screening The Trust has conducted a screening exercise for the extension of charges, which concluded that full equality impact assessment is not required at this time. The proposal is subject to ongoing review and your views and comments on equality implications are invited. 15

16 6.0 Recommendations In 2011, the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) consulted on future car parking charges in the Health and Social Care (HSC) sector which recommended more extensive and widespread charging, including extending staff charging, and charging across other HSC sites. The South Eastern Trust proposes to introduce charges to conform to the principles set out in the above policy across all major Trust sites and to charge parking to all users of car parking facilities. We believe this approach is both relevant and appropriate with the regional guidance set out by the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS). This proposal will ensure the Trust can continue to meet future parking requirements and is the option that is most likely to achieve against all the aims set out in the document. This proposal is subject to on-going equality screening. A copy of the screening documentation can be obtained from Suzanne McCartney, Equality Manager, Laganside House, Lagan Valley Hospital, Lisburn Tel No extension How to respond to the Consultation What do you think? This document sets out the Trust planned extension of traffic management across South Eastern Trust Hospital sites. Please let us know whether you agree or disagree with this proposal. A summary of feedback will be provided to all respondents. Public meetings The Trust is planning to hold a series of public meetings across its locality to ensure that the public have the opportunity to contribute to the consultation process. These meetings are scheduled for: Monday 12 January 2015 Great Hall, Downpatrick at 3.00pm Thursday15 January Lagan Valley Recreation Hall at 7.00pm Wednesday 21 January 2015 McWhinney Hall, Ards Hospital at 7.00pm Booking is not necessary, but if you would like to register your attendance, please contact Tania Gibson on tel: or consulation@setrust.hscni.net. You can send your comments to the Trust by a variety of means such as: In writing By 16

17 By telephone By text phone Via our website There is a consultation questionnaire which you can use to respond to the consultation. Additional copies of this document and the consultation questionnaire are available from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust website by clicking on Involving You. Please return your response by 18 February 2015 to: Hugh McCaughey Chief Executive South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Trust Headquarters Ulster Hospital Dundonald BT16 1RH Telephone: Textphone: consultation@setrust.hscni.net The consultation on the proposals will last from 26 November 2014 to 18 February