New car parking measures are to be implemented at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.
The new procedures will take place from Monday next, 3 October.
There will be no change to the current allocation of free and paid car parking as the measures procedures are being put in place to prevent unauthorised parking and to Improve traffic management.
The Western Health Trust will also introduce the measures South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.
The Trust has contracted a third party company to assist with day-to-day traffic management of both sites.
The Trust will retain control of operational management of car parking at both hospital sites, and will provide guidance and instruction to support the company to ensure the Trust can maximise accessibility to both sites for patients, visitors and staff.
The Trust said it had been aware of site users not appropriately using the car parking space available, including disabled parking bays, causing unnecessary difficulties for other site users.
Teresa Molloy, Director of Performance Management and Service Improvement at the Western Trust said: “The Trust needs to ensure that all those who visit our hospital sites have appropriate access to the site.
“For this reason we need to ensure that the traffic is well managed and parking spaces are used effectively.
“Protecting blue light routes, disabled parking bays and general site access is important, so after consultation we have decided to introduce these new controls on both hospital sites.”
Ms Molloy said the decision had “:not been taken lightly.”
She added: “We have increasing numbers of site users complaining about misuse of parking spaces and inappropriate parking on both hospital sites.
“Our Trust needs to protect access for those with greater access needs, so that they can park on both sites, without difficulty.”
To further support the new scheme, the Ms Molloy said the Trust would be providing a short lead in period from Monday next to Sunday, 16 October for all patients, visitors and staff.
She concluded: “During this period the Trust will apply Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) but will not enforce these, giving site users time to adapt to the new arrangements.”
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 07825 711978. Or you can email john.gill@derrynews.net at any time.