Providing a bespoke permit solution for complex NHS requirements
Background
With over 30 years experience managing NHS car parks, GroupNexus have built up a deep knowledge of the challenges and nuances of hospital parking.
They have applied this knowledge to create a secure digital permit system that, while complex at the back-end, provides a user-friendly, self-serve client and staff interface.
As well as significant administrative cost savings, NexusPermit has been designed with the features and functionality to enable their clients to meet the government’s manifesto commitments for the provision of free parking to designated groups.
NexusPermit enables a Trust to design and build their own application forms, create new users and permissions, and manage the entire scoring and approval process, including postcode exclusion, all using a simple web interface.
The Challenge
Our long standing client, Warrington & Halton Hospitals NHS Trust, has a complex set-up with multisite and multi-zoned car parks. Staff have varied permissions to use some/all car parks at various times depending on their role and shifts, therefore this needed to be catered for in their permit and enforcement system.
Furthermore, demand for staff permits outstripped space availability and they faced a lot of parking abuse.
They needed a system that allowed qualifying staff to have multi-site access at specified times, with eight distinct permit groups.
Having explored a system that wasn’t fit-for-purpose, they required a bespoke solution that was easy to operate. It needed to facilitate those with an existing permit, as well as a points-based system for new applicants that had to meet certain criteria.
Solution
We worked closely with Warrington & Halton to ensure that NexusPermit met all of their requirements; for example, we found a way to facilitate the need for their Permit Groups to not only govern the sites drivers could park in, but also the times of day they could park.
With multiple zones, it was essential to create a system that could distinguish between the locations and feed into our monitoring and enforcement system. Having ANPR cameras within each of the nested car parks, we were able to link this into the permit system and monitor usage accordingly.
Our system allows Permit Groups to have specific rules set up, for example, a group can have a maximum number of permits available, varying site times and predefined expiration dates.
The detailed application scoring system allows them to set questions and criteria in order to allocate staff permits and free parking to the right groups. Like all NHS sites, Warrington & Halton have frequently changing circumstances; these questions and corresponding scores can be amended as and when needed.
With high demand for permits at these sites, the scoring system is applied to new applicants and those on their waiting list.
Permit Applicants are invited by email, providing them with a login to register and complete their application online, get notified of the decision once reviewed, and pay for the appropriate permit (if applicable).
By working closely together, we have successfully provided our client with a permit system that serves all their complex needs.
Implementation
As the incumbent Parking Management and ANPR system provider for Warrington & Halton, we have successfully integrated their ANPR, Permit and Enforcement systems.
However, NexusPermit can be easily integrated with ANY Car Park Management System already in operation, including ANPR and barriered systems.
We worked closely with Warrington & Halton, in an iterative process, to ensure that the system suited their exact needs.
Now that the system has been set-up, The Trust is able to self-manage the process – from changing the questions, the weighting of the scores and the permit rules.
Results
NexusPermit puts our clients in control.
It gives them flexibility and creates efficiencies for related admin tasks.
“We’re delighted to have a new permit system that is flexible enough to suit our complex and specific needs.
With multiple sites and zones across Warrington and Halton Hospitals, NexusPermit allows us to manage our parking with ease, providing spaces for those that need them.”
Warrington & Halton Hospitals NHS Trust