Second Entrance Campaign

Public asked to support planning application for second entrance at hospital to help ‘Keep Care Moving’

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust is excited to announce that the planning application for the second entrance to University Hospital is scheduled to be heard before Coventry City Council Planning Committee in Spring 2011.

Chairman of UHCW NHS Trust Philip Townshend is asking Coventry residents to support the Trust’s campaign for this second entrance to give improved traffic flow and emergency access on the University Hospital site and additional 650 car parking spaces.

He said: ”As a Trust we have been eagerly awaiting this as it will offer ease of access both for patients, visitors and staff and help relieve congestion around the site as well as alleviate the concerns around the safety of patients being brought in by ambulance when there is only one route in today. For those critically sick patients coming into the Trust by ambulance it is crucial they can be treated as quickly as possible. There have been two occasions this winter where we’ve had to open up Hall Lane on site in order to make sure ambulances could get into the hospital site quickly. This is not an entrance which can be used full-time – to protect our patients we need to find another full-time entrance which can be used.

“The other benefit is that a second entrance would also give us the opportunity to develop additional parking capacity which would in turn allow us to review our current parking arrangements, including the parking costs.

“We were overwhelmed last year by the support shown by the people of Coventry and Warwickshire for the national consultation on car parking and were as disappointed as they were when it was announced there would be no changes made.

“For us, this application is a real way in which we could resolve some of these issues – but we need your help. I would call on anyone with an interest to write to Coventry City Council’s planning committee in support of the application.”

When the date of the planning application is confirmed the Trust will issue a further press release including details of where supporters can register their support. In the meantime those interested can join the Trust Facebook group at www.facebook.com/nhsuhcw, follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/nhsuhcw or email communications@uhcw.nhs.uk using the subject matter “Second Entrance”.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PRESS RELEASE PLEASE CONTACT KERRY BEADLING, HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS, ON 024 7696 7597

Update 04/02/11

• To read the latest statement from Chairman Philip Townshend please click here.

• To read a list of Frequently Asked Questions about car parking please click here.