How lucky we are living in West Dorset to have such a wonderful hospital as Dorset County (DCH) to take care of our health needs.

Both my wife and I have had to pay many visits to the hospital over recent months and have received the most excellent attention from the staff at all levels.

However the hospital does have an enormous problem which needs urgent attention. The car parking space available to patients and visitors is totally inadequate.

On most occasions when attending the hospital it is very difficult to obtain a parking space.

It can be a most stressful experience to attend any hospital; but to be faced with the very difficult task of finding a space to leave your vehicle, adds to this trauma.

Blood pressures increase and tempers fray especially when one has a deadline to meet with a consultation appointment.

The car park layout is not suitable for the numbers who use the hospital. The landscaping areas with trees and shrubs etc, although they look good, take up far too much space.

I do think that if some of this landscaping were to be removed it would be possible to provide a considerable number of additional parking spaces.

If it is not possible or there is not the will to revamp the present parking arrangements, would it be possible to consider a park and ride facility or look at providing some overhead parking?

I am aware that budgets nowadays are tight but this is a major problem which is getting worse and will not get better unless money is spent to make urgent changes.

It should be remembered that the DCH catchment area is immense and largely rural. Unless you are a Dorchester resident, it is very difficult to get to the hospital without using a car.

Most of us are aware of the importance to get to your consultation in good time, but having to drive around this maze of car park many times before parking does not make this task very easy.

Many people park illegally, risking a penalty charge because they can not find a space to park, being conscience of the need to meet their appointment time.

I do think consideration should be given to improving the car parking in order to make a visit to hospital less traumatic. It would be interesting to know the hospital management’s view of this problem and its solution.

John Perry, Fry's Close, Portesham