Concerns over parking shortages at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor have been raised by Janet Finch-Saunders MS, who is calling for urgent action to address the issue.
Patients and healthcare staff are struggling to find suitable parking, leading to fines being issued by Cyngor Gwynedd’s parking wardens.
Patients arriving for crucial appointments often find themselves circling the hospital in search of parking spaces, sometimes resulting in delays or missed appointments. Nurses have also been affected, with some receiving fines after being forced to park in short-stay areas due to a lack of available spaces.
Mrs. Finch-Saunders, who previously campaigned to save the park-and-ride service at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, emphasised the distress caused by the current parking situation.
“When there are no spaces available and the appointment time is looming, stress levels for already unwell people rapidly increase, and drivers are forced to park in inappropriate locations,” she stated.
She further argued that for many residents of Aberconwy and rural North West Wales, driving is the only viable way to reach the hospital. The high demand for parking spaces, she noted, has made it clear that supply is insufficient.
“What is completely unacceptable is that parking fines are being issued at a time when it is obvious that demand outstrips supply,” she added. “Making money out of patients going to hospital, or those visiting loved ones, is morally wrong.”
Mrs. Finch-Saunders has urged Cyngor Gwynedd and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to explore solutions such as a park-and-ride system, a multi-storey car park, or an expansion of existing parking facilities. In the meantime, she has called for parking wardens to cease enforcement while a long-term solution is sought.
The call for action highlights ongoing concerns about hospital accessibility, with many hoping for swift measures to alleviate the growing pressure on Ysbyty Gwynedd’s parking infrastructure.
