A MULTI-STOREY car park could be built at Colchester General Hospital to make life easier for patients and visitors, according to bosses.

Hospital bosses say a multi-storey car park is one of several parking solutions under consideration for the Turner Road site in a bid to provide more spaces.

Parking at the site has been an issue in the eyes of many residents for several years and last year 180 extra spaces were added.

But patients were told about the possibility of a multi-storey at a Local Health Matters meeting held by the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group in Colchester.

Dr Barbara Buckley, joint medical director for clinical strategy at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, said the trust was aware of the need for more parking.

She said: “We know car parking at the hospital is a massive issue for patients and visitors. The last thing you want to have to worry about when you visit hospital is whether or not you’ll be

able to park your car so we want to make life easier for people.

“We would like to work with a partner to look at whether a multi-storey car park is suitable.

“You have to consider how such a project would be

undertaken and who would do it.

“Would we have to work with a commercial company - NCP, for example - and would that be suitable for our patients?”

Colchester councillor Martin Goss (Lib Dem) urged caution on the hospital using private companies.

Mr Goss said: “In the past we’ve had a real pushback when we’ve suggested this to the trust so it’s good to hear all options are being considered.

“In principle this is something I fully support but they would have to think about how it’s done carefully.

“You don’t want a situation where a parking company has control of the car park and are able to charge ridiculous amounts of money to people who are visiting unwell family and friends.”

The hospital made more than £1 million from parking income in 2016/17.

Mr Goss said: “At the moment any profit made on

car parking goes straight back into health care - would the hospital lose that money if they use a private company?”