Pressure for parking space has
led an Aberdeen cancer centre to install new measures to help their visitors
access the facility.
Maggie’s Centre in Aberdeen
has put parking bollards in their dedicated spaces on the Foresterhill Health
Campus to let visitors with reduced mobility park outside the centre.
Centre head Vera Schroeter
said: “We’ve noticed that our clearly marked designated spaces were
increasingly being used by drivers who weren’t visiting Maggie’s.
“Many of our users have
restricted mobility so were unable to access the support from our specialists
or to join in groups and activities as they couldn’t get parked outside.
“This could have been sessions
with our psychologist to help them come to terms with their cancer diagnosis,
or meeting with our benefits advisor for advice on much-needed financial and
practical support.
“At Maggie’s, we aim to help
the people who come to us for support feel better, and these changes should
make it easier for people dealing with cancer to get the best possible
support.”
The new lockable bollards
protecting the spaces were installed earlier this month following consultation
with NHS Grampian and are now in operation.
Anyone visiting the centre who
needs access to a space can get a key from the centre. Parking is also
available in the 1100-space free-to-use Lady Helen Parking Centre outside
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI).