Stoke Mandeville Hospital becomes second hospital in UK to win Disabled Parking Award

Stoke Mandeville Hospital, part of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, has become only the second hospital in the UK to be awarded the Disabled Parking Award (DPA) parking standard established by the charity Disabled Motoring UK.

Clinton Green, Director of Property Services at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust said: ‘We are thrilled to have achieved the standards required for the Disabled Parking Award. The Trust has undertaken a lot of work in the last year to help ensure both our patients and our staff have a positive experience at our sites across Buckinghamshire.

Providing facilities suitable for people with disabilities, such as accessible parking bays and offering free parking to blue badge holders, is a huge priority for us. Not only because the National Spinal Injuries Centre is based at Stoke Mandeville Hospital but to help us continue to deliver the safe and compassionate care we promise each of our patients.‘

To qualify for the DPA capr parks have to meet high standards by ensuring:

• Sufficient and accessible disabled parking bays
• Clear signage
• Ease of access
• Good lighting
• Accessible payment machines and alternative payment methods
• Concessions for disabled people
• Effective enforcement of the disabled parking policies

Following detailed assessments of the facilities and subsequent consultations with UK Parking Control, Stoke Mandeville Hospital’s parking management provider who guided the hospital’s facilities management team through the process, the award was given to the hospital by DMUK.

DMUK’s Helen Dolphin MBE, Director of Policy & Campaigns, stated ‘I am absolutely delighted that Stoke Mandeville Hospital’s car park has reached the standard to be awarded the DPA. Disabled Motoring UK came up with this accreditation after a report carried out by the charity showed that many car parks across the UK failed to make any provisions for disabled people.

Car parks that achieve this award are added to the DPA website so disabled people can search for a car park before they leave for their destination and have confidence that the car park will meet their needs. It is great to know that disabled people visiting Stoke Mandeville Hospital will all be able to park with ease.‘

Simon Snelgrove, Director at UKPC commented ‘We are absolutely delighted how the team at Stoke Mandeville Hospital embraced this vitally important parking initiative and congratulate them for taking the lead and achieving the DPA standard. As a proud partner of Disabled Motoring UK, we have established an internal team dedicated to promoting the DPA.

We very much hope that all car parks in the UK will strive to attain this standard and continue to make parking for disabled people easier. We look forward to supporting many others through the accreditation process.‘