Hospital car park fines set to return

From next Monday, August 3, workers who have looked after patients in trying circumstances since lockdown began will not be able to park in the short stay sections of the car park as shifts are longer than the time permitted.

Bosses at the Melrose hospital say the normal parking measures are being brought back to help keep people safe as they begin the “careful and gradual resumption of health services”.

A spokesman for NHS Borders said yesterday: “In order to ensure that our car parks are used safely and appropriately, normal parking measures, including issuing of fixed penalty notices at the Borders General Hospital where necessary, will be reintroduced from Monday, August 3.”

Andrew Bone, director of finance, estates and facilities at the health authority, said: “Providing safe patient care is our priority and this starts the minute people arrive on our premises.

“Our designated short stay car parking spaces are there to enable people to find a car parking space easily, and as close to the hospital as possible. Any car park user wishing to park all day should use one of the long stay car parks.

“In order to minimise footfall across our sites the advice remains that if you are able to attend an appointment on your own then please do so.

“Please also remember that visiting remains restricted to one designated visitor and is by appointment only, unless in exceptional circumstances.

“We are also encouraging staff to utilise long stay car parks or, if they can, cycle or walk all or part of the way to work in order to reduce pressure on car parks as patient footfall increases.

“I would like to thank everyone in advance for their cooperation with these measures.”