The need to increase the number of available parking spaces at Daisy Hill Hospital has been identified as a “capital priority”.
But, as expected, it will take cash – not readily available – to turn that priority on paper into reality on the ground.
The lack of parking at the Newry-based hospital has long been an issue of concern – one of many at Daisy Hill.
Indeed, figures reveal that Craigavon Area Hospital has more than four times the number of parking spaces for patients and visitors than Daisy Hill.
The latter has 75 “dedicated parking spaces” for staff – one more than that the 74 available at Craigavon.
But Craigavon Area Hospital boasts 2,082 spaces for patients and visitors, compared to the paltry 467 at Newry.
The details were confirmed by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt in response to a written question by the SDLP’s Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty.
He had asked for a breakdown of available parking and urged the Minister to “detail any plans he has to increase the number of parking spaces available at both hospital sites”.
In his brief response detailing the number of spaces, the Minister did not refer to any hopes or ambitions to increase parking at Craigavon.
Rather, he stated: “The Southern Health and Social Trust has referenced additional parking spaces at Daisy Hill Hospital as a capital priority.”
But the caveat came swiftly, when he added: “However, this will be subject to securing the required funding in the context of the severe funding pressures facing the Health and Social Care sector.”
