I HAVE decided to ‘host’ a campaign to publicise the woefully inadequate parking at Glangwili Hospital.

My wife and I have attended the hospital as both ‘in’ and ‘out’ patients; me in 2005 with cancer, and more recently this week, my wife underwent serious emergency surgery. We are both glowing in our appreciation of the tremendous staff, treatment, and facilities available at the hospital; the parking facilities are however another story.

Attending hospital is often a traumatic experience, visiting loved ones is an emotional time. Having to spend up to 45 minutes ‘circulating’ the car parks, waiting for spaces only adds to the stresses involved.

Nurses told me they have to arrive up to 45minutes early for a 12 hour shift, just to find a space!

Yesterday, and today, at around 2pm, there were long queues backing up into the main road bringing traffic to a standstill. I saw two ambulances, albeit without blue lights flashing (luckily) stuck in this jam. Missed appointments, and limited visiting times are all affected. I have written to Mark Williams MP bringing this situation to his attention, and it is my intention to collect names in a dossier which I can present to the Health Board.

There is a simple (relatively) cheap solution; adding an extra level using a steel frame would solve the problem immediately.

In my own experience, parking has remained virtually unchanged from 2005, whilst extra units such as the new maternity unit have increased traffic. Raised life expectancy and a rising birth rate will continue to increase the required space for parking and drastic action is required. My knowledge of the budgeting of a Health Board is limited, but how can you build all these new facilities without extra parking?

I would like to test the feelings of your readers, I am guessing they all feel like me.

Could you please include this in your letters page and ask those interested to email me at: glangwillicarpark@hotmail.

com or write to me at: Frustrated Parker, Pengraig, Rhydlewis, Llandysul, SA44 5RL.

MARTIN OXBORROW

Carmarthenshire