Background
The Victoria Infirmary in Northwich is a nurse-led Minor Injuries Unit within the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Open daily from 9 am to 8 pm, it provides urgent care for conditions that can’t wait for a GP appointment, including minor burns, bites, foreign objects, and certain heart and lung diagnostics. Alongside, there is also a GP Out of Hours Service in the evenings and at weekends, offering urgent primary healthcare for needs that cannot safely wait until the patient’s own GP practice is open.
Project Requirements
Balancing the parking needs of visitors attending for planned diagnostics, unplanned minor injuries, and out-of-hours GP requirements required a flexible approach to ensure suitable access for patients and staff. The updated car park increased capacity to 130 spaces; 69 for visitors and 61 for staff, secured within a nested access area.
CAME Solution
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust approached CAME Parkare, an existing parking partner, to supply, install, and manage the new parking system. The installation features the latest PKX system, including PKX Entry and Exit Terminals, multi-payment card and cash Pay-on-Foot (PoF) terminals, secondary reader units for nested access, and four high-speed PX barrier units with breakaway arms. The installation and commissioning were carried out by CAME Parkare’s in-house engineers, ensuring a seamless setup and reliable operation.
The system is monitored by four ANPR camera units, allowing fast entry and accurate pricing without the need to take a ticket on arrival. As a vehicle approaches the entrance, its number plate is recorded and, assuming parking is available, the barrier automatically allows access
Upon leaving, users visit a PoF terminal and enter their number plate. The system calculates the correct payment, and once completed, the exit camera triggers the barrier to open for paid customers. The ANPR solution reduces friction at the barriers, enabling smooth traffic flow and avoiding difficulties for users with low mobility who might otherwise need to reach for a ticket.
The CAME PX barrier features a fast and durable brushless motor rated for continuous use, suitable for intensive-duty environments, with an impressive 10 million cycles before failure (MCBF). Built-in LED lighting around the barrier’s crown and along the boom arm provides red and green traffic light functionality. The breakaway arms minimise damage to both the barrier and vehicles if struck, while still protecting the entranceway.
The completed car park solution has been integrated into Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s network of Parkare systems, ensuring maintenance remains up to date and any repairs are handled quickly and efficiently by specialised Parkare service engineers.
Equipment Installed
- PKX Entry Terminal
- PKX Exit Terminal
- 2 x PKX Multi-payment Card / Cash POF’s
- 4 x PX Barriers, with breakaway arms
- 2 x Pedestrian Access Units for nested access
- 4 x Quercus V6 ANPR Units
