Healthwatch Sefton, in conjunction with The Walton Centre, is pleased to announce the installation of a new car park pay and display machine in the entrance to their Sid Watkins Building,
During a successful patient feedback report from an engagement visit, Healthwatch Sefton spoke with patients and staff, and found that there was no disabled access to the pay and display machine at the Sid Watkins building car park. The machine was inaccessible by a curb and hidden from view, distressing patients visiting the specialist Trust for an appointment or treatment. A member of staff suggested to Healthwatch Sefton that a pay machine be fitted within the Sid Watkins building.
After receiving the report, The Walton Centre took positive action and have fitted the new pay and display machine in the entrance of the Sid Watkins building. The machine is card payment only for security reasons and is now easily accessible for all.
Wendy Andersen, Healthwatch Sefton Engagement Manager said:
“We are so pleased that The Walton Centre has implemented the recommendation from our patient feedback report, the new pay and display machine is easily accessible for all and will alleviate a lot of stress for patients and staff.
“The Trust did make adjustments to the existing pay machine by improving accessibility via a ramp, but Healthwatch still felt it would support all patients and visitors to have a more visible and accessible pay machine within or closer to the Sid Watkins building.
“Positive outcomes like this highlight why our work is so important, we work closely with NHS providers, to make sure NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to feedback and improve standards of care. We also help people to find reliable and trustworthy information and advice.”
Head of Patient & Family Experience Lisa Judge said:
“We are immensely grateful to Healthwatch Sefton for raising important patient feedback to us about the parking here at The Walton Centre. We worked closely with the team at Healthwatch on this, to not only ensure that all of our patient needs are met in this regard, but to minimise anxiety about paying for parking during visits.’’
Dr John Turner, Chair of Healthwatch Sefton said:
“We are very pleased that The Walton Centre has implemented the recommendation from Healthwatch Sefton based on our recent patient feedback report. The new pay and display machine is easily accessible to all those using the Sid Watkins building and although a ramp was in place, Healthwatch believe that the final positioning we have jointly agreed is an excellent solution for patients and visitors.”
Healthwatch Sefton is the local arm of Healthwatch England, whose role is to gather and champion the views of users of health and social care services, in order to identify improvements and influence providers’ plans and is completely independent of the NHS.