"Unable to use only accessible parking bay at Lochalsh Healthcare Centre as it hasn't been repaired"

About: General Practices in NHS Highland

(as the patient),

I attended an appointment last year at Lochalsh Healthcare Centre and parked in the their car park. There is only one accessible parking bay there and I use a large 6 metre long wheelchair accessible vehicle with rear entry/exit via a wheelchair lift. When I exited the vehicle, there was a loud crunching noise and my wheelchair lift juddered making odd movements and noise. When I was out of the vehicle, I could see that, at the rear of the bay, the mono-block surface and the dished drainage channel (which should not be used on a wheelchair accessible route, as it breaks wheelchair wheels and can tip wheelchairs) were loose and moving under the lift, meaning it was not a flat, even and level surface, as it should be. On entering the building, I went straight to reception and reported that the surface needed to be repaired as soon as possible as it was dangerous for wheelchair, and other users, and appeared to have caused damage to my wheelchair lift on my vehicle. I was told it would be reported. After my appointment, I returned to my vehicle and had trouble entering my vehicle as the wheelchair lift had clearly been damaged on exit, damage which I have since had to have repaired. I have since reported the problem with this one and only available accessible parking space, on several occasions and have asked why it hasn't been repaired as I could no longer use it and had great difficulty finding anywhere close by that I could park. I have repeatedly been met with staff shrugging their shoulders and saying we have reported it. It is not our responsibility to repair it. I can no longer attend appointment at Lochalsh Healthcare Centre, which means that I am losing healthcare appointments. Having reported this problem numerous times in the last year and it still hasn't been repaired speaks volumes as to NHS Highlands attitude to disabled people. They are all inclusive of other groups yet somehow us disabled people don't seem to count, or be included. How do I get this repair done so that I can get to appointments I need to attend?

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Responses

Update posted by LS1 (the patient)

No response after a week.... that says it all and speaks volumes about NHS Highland's ableist attitudes to disabled service users. The NHS no longer cares about and certainly doesn't behave towards disabled people in an inclusive and equal manner. We are discriminated against and excluded simply because we are disabled. Shame on you.

Response from Sylvia Fraser, Clinical Governance Facilitator & NHS Highland Operational Lead for Care Opinion, Clinical Governance, NHS Highland 10 months ago
Sylvia Fraser
Clinical Governance Facilitator & NHS Highland Operational Lead for Care Opinion, Clinical Governance,
NHS Highland

I am part of the overall team who manages complaints for NHS Highland and are known as the Feedback Team. We offer patients, relatives, MPs/MSPs, staff and anyone who requires assistance is registering a concern or formal complaint.

Submitted on 14/05/2024 at 11:25
Published on Care Opinion at 11:25


picture of Sylvia Fraser

Dear LS1

Thank you for your communication highlighting the parking faciliaties located at Lochalsh Healthcare Centre.

I am sorry that your concerns were not investigate previously, and you had to raise this matter again.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the delay in responding to your concerns.

We can confirm that a site visit has now been completed and an action plan agreed. The existing channels are to be lifted and replaced with a slotted eco drain channel and the blocks reinstated. This should allow for better, smoother access for all patients/service users.

This is currently with the civils contractor for pricing. Upon receipt of this information the works will commence. Unfortunately we cannot provide you with a timeframe for completion.

With kind regards

Sylvia, on behalf of

Steven MacKenzie, Senior Estates Operations Manager

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Update posted by LS1 (the patient)

Firstly, are you sure the type of drainage channel can take the weight of a wheelchair lift and a powered wheelchair in excess of 220 Kgs, as well as the weight of the person in it?

I have today had to call to make an emergency dental appointment at the Lochalsh Healthcare Centre but cannot attend until this is fixed, so it would be good to know when that is likely to be. My alternative is to attend an emergency dental appointment on the Raigmore Campus, in a building that has no accessible toilets I can actually access, and use, which has previously been reported to the manager of the building who stated that they would report this to NHS Highland Estates. I am assured that no changes have been made to make any of their accessible toilets accessible to me. NHS Highland, it doesn't feel like you really understand the major access issues you have created for me, and others like me. It is an absolute disgrace that you assess people like me as needing the wheelchair I need, and provide it, but don't ensure that any of your buildings' sanitary facilities will be accessible to me in that wheelchair, even when I have to travel for hours to get to some of these buildings.

Response from Sylvia Fraser, Clinical Governance Facilitator & NHS Highland Operational Lead for Care Opinion, Clinical Governance, NHS Highland 10 months ago
Sylvia Fraser
Clinical Governance Facilitator & NHS Highland Operational Lead for Care Opinion, Clinical Governance,
NHS Highland

I am part of the overall team who manages complaints for NHS Highland and are known as the Feedback Team. We offer patients, relatives, MPs/MSPs, staff and anyone who requires assistance is registering a concern or formal complaint.

Submitted on 17/05/2024 at 14:42
Published on Care Opinion at 14:45


picture of Sylvia Fraser

Dear LS1

Thank you for your subsequent post highlighting your further concerns.

Upon consultation with Estates Services I can confirm that a site visit was undertaken yesterday and further photographs and measurements taken around the disabled parking bay, which are causing issues with wheelchair access.

A suitable contactor will be contacted and a quote arranged. The required works will be carried as soon as is practically possible thereafter.

I hope that this update has reassured you that this matter is being actively managed.

With kind regards

Sylvia

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Update posted by LS1 (the patient)

These repairs have still not been done. Can you please give me some idea as to when the repairs to the only accessible parking bay will be completed at Lochalsh Healthcare Centre as I cannot attend any appointments there until the repairs have taken place.

There is nowhere else in the village where I can park my wheelchair accessible vehicle and enter/exit via the rear wheelchair lift.

Please get this fixed as soon as possible.

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