Access

 

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Disabled Access

Newton Place Surgery has suitable access for disabled patients.

Our consulting rooms and treatments rooms are located on 2 floors. The ground floor waiting areas and consulting rooms have wheelchair access and there is a chair lift available for disabled access to the second floor. Please make reception aware if this is not suitable for you.

There are patient toilets which have wheelchair access.

There are designated disabled parking spaces in the car park.

 

Parking

Newton Place Surgery has almost 19,000 patients and over 90 members of staff associated with the practice, some of whom undertake home visits and/ or live outside of Faversham, so as you can imagine, there is high demand for parking.

We have always had signs in place informing people that it was a private car park, but unfortunately, these signs continue to be ignored. We often witness people parking in the car park and walking into town; patients parking in staff parking spaces; and patients without a disability parking in the disabled bays.

Because of this abuse of our car park our doctors, staff and disabled patients have not been able to find a space on many occasions.

The Practice uses Smart Parking Ltd and they in turn, have an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system in operation in our car park. We found the introduction of the ANPR system necessary to deter unauthorised use of the car park by people who are not genuinely attending the practice.

The practice does not receive any money from the parking charges. Our priority is to ensure that those who are entitled to, can get parked.

Parking Rules

Our car park has disabled parking bays. These are for disabled patients who have a blue badge; mobility issues; or for those assisting a patient to their appointment who may be disabled or very unwell and need assistance only. When you arrive, please enter your registration details onto the tablet on reception or notify a receptionist.

If you have a Blue Badge you will still need to enter your vehicle registration details at reception. The number plate recognition system does not recognise Blue Badges.

The car park is not for customers of the pharmacy.

It is for patients who are visiting the practice for an appointment and who are in the above criteria. If you need to visit the pharmacy you will need to park elsewhere.

One side of the car park is for a drop off only. This is not for parking.

There is also staff parking. This area is not for patients. 

If any of the above rules are breached, you will receive a Parking Charge Notice.

How the system works

  • When you enter the car park, the camera will take an image of your vehicle’s registration details.
  • If you fit the criteria to park in the car park, you must enter your number plate details into one of the available tablets located at Reception. You have 10 minutes to get your details entered. If you have trouble with the tablet, please let Reception know.
  • If you go over the 10 minutes or forget to enter your details, please inform Reception.
  • When you leave the Practice, the camera will take another image of your vehicle registration and calculate how long you were parked for.

You will need to repeat this process during each visit to the Practice.

  • On occasion there will also be wardens policing the car park.

Alternative Local Parking

For those who are visiting the pharmacy and who are able bodied and have an appointment there is alternative parking at the following:

  • Institute Road Car Park (next to the library)
  • Faversham Car Park, Leslie Smith Drive
  • Queens Hall Car Park, Forbes Road
  • APCOA Partridge Lane

If you receive a parking charge

If you receive a parking charge and you did not attend the practice for an appointment it is unlikely an appeal will be successful.

To appeal the charge you will need to follow the instructions issued on the parking charge notice.

The Practice cannot appeal on your behalf; you will need to contact Smart Parking Ltd directy.

Appeal a Parking Charge Notice

 

Loop System

There is a Hearing Loop in reception for use by people with hearing aids and the building has been designed and decorated to make it easier for people with visual problems. We have a disabled toilet and baby change facilities.

 

Blind / Partially Sighted

If you or family members are blind or partially sighted we can give you a large print of our practice leaflet upon request. Please ask Reception for further information.

For more advice and support for blind people please see the following websites:

 

Guide Dogs

Guide dogs are welcome at the surgery but we ask that you be aware of other patients and staff who may have an allergy or fear of dogs.

Further Information:

 

Other Disability Websites