DISABLED hospital patients have been left stranded at Inverclyde Royal after parking spaces were suddenly axed.

Councillor Jim MacLeod is angry that five bays near to the entrance of the hospital have been taken away.

The spaces have been removed to make way for a £100,000 project being carried out to improve the access road, expand parking for buses and installing a bus shelter.

The spaces will be reinstated in the main car park when the work is finished but Councillor MacLeod, of Inverclyde Council on Disability (ICOD), is angry that people with mobility problems will suffer for it in the meantime.

He said: “They should have put these extra spaces within the main car park before they took the others away — and they should have let people know about it.

“It’s always been a struggle getting a parking space up there.

“I had an appointment myself last week and was half an hour late because I couldn’t get a space, and so many people are in a similar predicament. It’s a very difficult situation.” Mr MacLeod believes little thought has gone into the planning of the project. He added: “Who did the health board consult with over all this? Why didn’t they contact the council or an organisation like ICOD?

“I think the health board should have handled it better. I appreciate there is a need to improve bus stances but why take away five disabled spaces at the main entrance and put them further away from the hospital?” Bosses at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde say the work aims to tackle traffic congestion and parking problems at the hospital.

They say it should be completed by the end of this month and disabled parking bays will have level access into casualty and secure bike facilities when the work is done.

An spokeswoman for the health board said: “While the work is ongoing a car park attendant is providing support to any disabled drivers that require assistance locating appropriate parking and managing traffic flows.

“The aim is to create a safer environment whilst ensuring emergency vehicle access is given the highest priority at all times.”