Keep hospitals central
Published Date:
14 October 2008
Economic turmoil puts climate change higher up the agenda than ever (your report and Platform, 9 October) – unless you work for NHS Lothian, that is. In the 20th century, NHS Lothian decided to move the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh to a massive car park at Little France. Now, in the 21st century, with the globe warming and oil supplies running low, NHS Lothian hopes two wrongs would make a right if the Sick Kids' hospital moved there too.
If NHS Lothian cared about patients, it could prioritise free parking at the current site for families with special needs and provide clear maps showing the numerous bus routes within a few minutes' walk. Instead, it wants to drastically increase bus journey times to the hospital: families coming from East and West Lothian by train will have a huge extra leg on their journey. No doubt NHS Lothian will try to justify it with vague promises of "sustainability".
Nicola Sturgeon wants hospitals to offer free parking. She should go one step further and insist new or redeveloped hospitals stay in central locations.
LAURA BIRD
Relugas Place
Edinburgh
The full article contains 188 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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Last Updated:
13 October 2008 8:38 PM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
