Hospital staff advised to leave parking spaces

NHS SHETLAND has been quick to respond to requests for hospital staff to leave parking spaces free for patients.

Health board chief executive Sandra Laurenson has written to Lerwick Community Council after concerns were raised that patients attending the Gilbert Bain could find nowhere to park.

Lerwick South councillor Jonathan Wills said he had received complaints from constituents unable to find a parking space when attending appointments.

Mrs Laurenson said staff had been encouraged to use spaces available at Brevik House.

New lights are about to go up there to make it a more attractive place to park for hospital staff.

Parking at Brevik House has also recently been extended, as well as parking outside the hospital itself.

Building work contractors also need to use spaces to help them with ongoing improvements to the hospital building.

She said specific patient only spaces had also been created.

Dr Wills said it had been a “serious problem for old folk”, but it was good to see the health board responding so quickly.