Changes have come into force today to change the way patients and staff will access Wales’ biggest hospital.
The priority access to the University Hospital of Wales site in Cardiff has now changed.
Work started on site in August with completion anticipated to be mid September. There are staggered changes for the next month.
'Time will tell'
There is no longer access at Gateway Road, the road running adjacent to the emergency unit between 7am and 6pm between Monday to Friday.
There will be a staff barrier in place until September when the access is fully closed.
Until then, buses and emergency vehicles will be able to access the site through the barrier. Drivers will now have to give way at the entrance at King George V Drive (West) to enable traffic coming from Gabalfa to flow around the site easily.
The health authority say that the aim of these changes is to reduce the number of drivers who use the site as a thoroughfare to get across the city.
They say that nearly half of the traffic access the site unnecessarily which has placed a significant burden on the site.
A survey in December 2015, showed that more than 16,000 vehicles access the site daily and 7,600 of those vehicles use the site as a cut through.
'Greatest impact'
The proposals put forward to address the traffic using this site as an extension to the road network took into consideration a wide range of views.
The recommendations, the health board say, were made on the basis that it was this option that will have the greatest impact in terms of patient safety, with minimum impact on the road network.
The changes are:
- No throughway access to the road running adjacent to entrance of the Accident and Emergency Department except for emergency vehicles and public transport.
- A barrier management system will be implemented at King George V Drive West. This entry point will be closely monitored to assess the impact this traffic has on the site. If it is significant, entry access will proceed to close.
Access to emergency unit via a pick up and drop off at one of the following entrances:
- East bound entrance from the Gabalfa fly over and park in the small multi storey car park or turn left and park behind the Dental Hospital (adjacent to A48)
- Allensbank Road and park in the multi storey car park
- Slip Road off Eastern Avenue (A48) and park in the multi storey car park.
Concerns
But Heath Independent Councillor Fenella Bowden said that concerns remain about the changes.
She said people are worried that when trying to drop a patient off they will have to make their way round the whole site before getting to a drop off zone.
And anyone travelling alone will be unable to park directly outside to assist a patient inside in an emergency.
She said that while the barrier will have an intercom which in emergencies would allow non-emergency vehicles or buses through, people were worried about getting into the site quickly.
“They’re testing this during the holiday time and come mid-September when the kids are back at school, it’s going to be full on. That’s going to be the real test,” said Coun Bowden.
