FIGHTS have been breaking out at Ipswich Hospital as angry visitors clash over car parking spaces.Car park attendants at the Heath Road site have been forced to intervene in heated debates between visitors jostling to find a space.

By JESSICA NICHOLLS

health reporter

jessica.nicholls@eveningstar.co.uk

FIGHTS have been breaking out at Ipswich Hospital as angry visitors clash over car parking spaces.

Car park attendants at the Heath Road site have been forced to intervene in heated debates between visitors jostling to find a space.

With around 8,000 people on site in any one day, the shortage of parking spaces has been causing hospital bosses a headache.

A spokeswoman from the hospital said that the problem was an ongoing one and discussions were in place to try and rectify it. But she appealed to visitors to calm down.

She said: "At the moment it is a problem and we do urge people to come in plenty of time.

"We need people to respect that we are a centre of care and need to safeguard the wellbeing of all those who use the hospital."

She added that the hospital was trying to make the best use of the land they have and were looking at different ways to find a solution

She said: "More people are being treated more quickly and so more people are coming to the hospital each day.

"We are looking at it and it's an ongoing problem."

Parking problems at the hospital were highlighted earlier this month when nearby residents claimed their streets were being used as an overflow car park.

People living in Brisbane Road, Adelaide Road and Tasmania Road claimed that hospital visitors regularly jammed their estate with cars – a problem that had got worse since double yellow lines were painted along Heath Road.

WEBLINK

www.ipswichhospital.gov.uk