A Walking Route planner is available on the right hand side of
this page under Related Links, please utilise this to plan your
walking route to Bishop Auckland Hospital.
Walking can reduce the risk of many diseases, including heart
attack, stroke, and glaucoma. It helps manage weight, control blood
pressure, and protect against hip fractures. Decreasing exposure to
heavy traffic and long commutes also reduces stress, which over
time increases the risk of conditions like heart disease it can
also increase your sense of wellbeing.
A Cycling Route planner is available on the right hand side of
this page under Related Links, please utilise this to plan your
Cycling route to Bishop Auckland Hospital.
There are 6 spaces for visitors and staff with cycle stands
outside urgent care and 6 spaces outside Out
Patients.
Bikes are efficient, too. You travel around three times as fast
as walking for the same amount of energy. You have your weight
ratio to thank: you're about six times heavier than your bike, but
a car is 20 times heavier than you. Cycling in the UK has increased
by as much as 200% during the coronavirus lockdown. Twenty bicycles
can be parked in the same space as one car. It takes around 5 per
cent of the materials and energy used to make a car to build a
bike, and a bike produces zero pollution
- Wear a comfortable, well-fitting helmet
- Be seen - wear bright clothes and something reflective
- Stop at junctions and look, look and look again. If you're
not sure, wait
- Carry emergency contact details with you. If going on a long
bike ride let someone know when you expect to return and the route
you'll take
- Keep tyres inflated; it makes for a smoother ride, means less
effort to pedal and makes the bike easier to handle
- If you are riding at dusk or in the dark make sure your bike
has lights
- Use hand signals to show where you are going. Help drivers to
help you
Public Transport
Bus Time Tables are available on the right hand side of this
page under Related Links, please utilise these to plan your journey
to Bishop Auckland Hospital.
Approximately 85 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from the
transportation sector are related to the surface transportation
system. Public transportation use is one of the most effective
actions individuals can take to conserve energy. Riding public
transportation far exceeds the benefits of other energy-saving
household activities, such as using energy-efficient light bulbs,
adjusting thermostats, or using energy-efficient appliances.
Car Travel
A Car Travel Route planner is available on the right hand side
of this page under Related Links, please utilise this to plan your
Car Journey to Bishop Auckland Hospital.
Car Parking Charges
We operate 'pay on foot' systems in our hospital car parks, so
please remember to bring some change for the car park ticket
machines.
- 0 - 2 hours - £3.00
- Up to 3 hours - £4.00
- Up to 24 hours - £6.00
Car Parking Charge Exemptions
Although we are not in a position to offer free parking for all
users, there are circumstances in which parking is free.
- Free Parking for Blue Badge holders: If all
Disabled bays are full, you can access the visitor car parks and
park free whilst displaying your blue badge
- Free Parking for Frequent outpatient
attenders: Free parking will be provided
to all out-patients who attend hospital for an appointment at least
three times within a month and for an overall period of at least
three months. A 'month' is defined as a period of 30 days
- Free Parking for Parents of sick children staying
overnight: This is for a parent or guardian of a child or
young person, under 18 years of age, who is admitted as an
inpatient at hospital overnight. You will receive free parking
between the hours of 7.30pm and 8am while visiting the child. This
would apply to a maximum of two vehicles. This applies to a maximum
of two vehicles
Exemption forms can be issued by the clinical teams in the
following circumstances and where clinical staff feel it would be
appropriate to do so for family or carer. Just ask staff on
the ward or department for details.
- End of life - Where clinical staff feel it
would be appropriate a parking exemption form can be issued to your
immediate family / carer
- Long stay patients -; normally those that
have been an in-patient for more than two / three weeks
- ITU / SCBU / neo-natal
- Cancer patients - free parking for the
duration of your treatment
- Birthing partners - during the period of
confinement birthing Dialysis and MRI patients - dedicated parking
areas allocated for these individuals with respective departments
issuing parking discs / permits
Additional Information
While we endeavor to provide the appropriate car parking for our
patients, visitors and users, spaces are limited and at peak times
our car parks can get busy and congested.
If you do decide to travel by car, please leave plenty of time
before your appointment to give you a chance to find a parking
space. We cannot be held responsible for your late arrival due to
car parking related issues.
It is extremely important that patients and visitors are able to
park safely when visiting our hospitals. Two of our car parks
have been awarded the Park Mark award for our efforts to promote
the safety and security of people and vehicles
Please do not park on double yellow or double red lines, hatched
areas at any time as access is required around the site at all
times.
There are also designated drop off bays / short stay parking
areas at each of our sites which enable 20 minutes of free
parking.
If you are parking in the local neighborhood, please be
considerate to local residents.
Patient Transport
You can continue to use hospital transport services, including
Patient Transport Service which is available Monday - Friday
with first appointment drop off at 09:00 and last return journey
collection is 16:30.
- Patients in Teesside and Darlington can book transport by
telephoning Transport Information Service on 01642 263 122.
- Patients in the Durham Dales and East Durham can telephone
Travel Response Centre on 03000 269 9999.
- Patients in North Durham should either contact their GP or the
Travel Response Centre.
Other support is available including, Help to Health: 0300 330
9242, The Friends of Darlington Memorial Hospital volunteer driver
service: 01325 743 866, the Link2 bus: 03000 269 999, public or
private transport.
Patients who receive certain benefits can claim back reasonable
transport costs from the cashier's offices at University Hospital
of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital, or from reception
at Bishop Auckland Hospital, Chester-le-Street Community Hospital
and Shotley Bridge Hospital.
You can find further information on these services in the
Patient Transport Services link on the top right hand side of this
page.