Parking at Ards Community Hospital

If arriving by car, please note that we have a limited number of patient and visitor car parking spaces at Ards Community Hospital.

The increasing requirements for the provision of hospital services have inevitability led to additional pressure on car parking. Our car parks can be extremely busy so please allow at least an extra 20 minutes at peak times for your journey to allow you to find a space.  The Trust would unreservedly apologise to visitors for the delay that may occur during times of queuing.

Car Parking Tariffs

There are two car parking systems employed on the Ards Hospital site for public use:

• PAY ON FOOT
• PAY AND DISPLAY

Pay on Foot Car Parks

Tariffs are in place across the Ards Community Hospital site and signage is in place. Please help support our clean air measures and avoid waiting in car parks with your engine running.

Car Parking Tariffs can be paid by cash or card at any of the pay stations on site.

Pay & Display

A separate Pay and Display system will be in place on defined spaces in an area which runs parallel with Church Street adjacent to Minor Injuries and the Gate Lodge. A Pay and Display machine will be located here.

We have a number of car parking concessions available to support our patients and visitors. The following eligibility matrix for free car parking is contained within the Department of Health Policy which “introduced transparency, fairness and consistency across the HSC based on the patient care path.

*Note – This additional South Eastern Trust criteria is in addition to the Department of Health Guidance.

Identified patients attending Old Mill Surgery, through liaison with the Practice Manager.

The Senior Nurse / Departmental Manager will use discretion and judgement in all other instances.

A total of 30 spaces are designated Blue Badge Holders on the Ards Community Hospital Site. These are identified on the map with a Blue Badge icon.

Designated Blue Badge Holders Car Park spaces are available in the following locations:

Barrier Car Parks

• Scrabo Childrens Centre
• Old Mill Surgery
• Lough House

Pay & Display

• Minor Injuries

Blue Badge Scheme rules apply and the badge should only be used when the holder is present either at point of arrival or departure. Any vehicle parked in a space for a blue badge holder must have a valid blue badge displayed. Your vehicle may be clamped if you fail to do so.

Please park responsibly when parking at our hospitals.

• Do not speed – There is a 15 mph speed limit on our sites and 5mph in car parks, this is in place to keep our patients, staff and visitors safe.
• Switch of your engines when idle.
• Please be aware of pedestrian crossings.
• Please do not park on double yellow lines, pavements or hatched areas.
• Only park in designated parking bays.
• Do not cause an obstruction to traffic or access to buildings.
• Do not park over space lines and park in a single space only.
• Please take the time to read our signage and avoid potential enforcement.

Parking Enforcement Zones throughout the site are clearly designated. Where the registered authorised provider has identified a vehicle that requires the implementation of enforcement measures the following procedure will be adopted. A Parking Charge Notice (PCN) will be applied to the vehicle. Details of the charge and how it should be paid will be contained in this notice. Wheel clamps may be applied in certain circumstances and will not be removed until the payment charge has been received. A notice in these circumstances will be applied to the vehicle advising the driver that the vehicle must not be removed and advising how the release fee may be arranged. All disputes concerning enforcement will be the responsibility of the company who have been contracted by the Trust through recognised Procurement Protocols. An appeals process is identified on the PCN or notice of clamping.

On the Ards Community Hospital site there is a bicycle shelter opposite Grant House.

Translink services to the site can be accessed and planned via this link: Journey Planner

You may get financial help from the Hospital Travel Cost Scheme if you are on a low income and need Health Service Treatment at a Hospital. Further Information can be access via this link: Hospital Travel Costs Scheme | nidirect

The Trust has been Smoke Free from March 2016, smoking is prohibited in Trust buildings, grounds and car parks by service-users, visitors, staff or contractors.