NHS Tayside is still considering moving hundreds of non-clinical staff to Ninewells Hospital — despite concerns it would worsen already severe parking congestion.
It was revealed in March that the health board was considering relocating 250 administration workers from Maryfield House on Mains Loan to the Mackenzie Building at Ninewells.
Employees who park at Maryfield House for free say they have been promised under 80 spaces for their vehicles, raising concerns the move could make existing overspill issues at Ninewells even worse.
The health board says it is currently undertaking a throughout assessment on whether the move is viable.
West End Liberal Democrat councillor Fraser MacPherson described the proposal as a “very bad” idea.
He said: “I’m glad to hear they are going through the process — it has to be taken very seriously.
“The impact on staff and visitors if the move goes ahead would be pretty obvious.
“The infrastructure at Ninewells has expanded way beyond what it was supposed to cover.
“This would just exacerbate issues such as parking even more.
“If the process in reaching a decision is robust however, it will throw up the clear disadvantages.”
Staff at Maryfield House will be moved to “appropriate alternative premises” to drive down maintenance costs, however, no decision has been made on where.
Labour councillor for the West End, Richard McCready added: “I want the most effective health services for the people of Tayside and I want NHS Tayside to be able to provide the best health services possible.
“I do have concerns about the on-going centralisation of services at Ninewells and wonder whether the infrastructure can cope with more and more people being on site.
“I do think that it especially the case with staff who are not patient facing, they are essential but do they need to be based at Ninewells making an already congested situation worse. ”
A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “Over the past couple of years, NHS Tayside has been driving forward its property strategy to ensure that we are able to deliver our services from the most appropriate premises.
“This is necessary because NHS Tayside has one of the largest property footprints of all health boards in Scotland with very old buildings which have high maintenance costs and environments which are no longer suitable.
“As part of this strategy, Maryfield House in Dundee was declared surplus by the Tayside NHS Board. Maryfield House is home to office-based staff and they will move to appropriate alternative premises.
“Alternative options for premises, including the Mackenzie Building on the Ninewells Hospital site, are still being considered and we will continue to work closely with staff to keep them informed.”
