sligo university hospital (suh)

Sligo University Hospital (SUH), part of the Saolta University Health Care Group, serves the people of Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal, and West Cavan with acute inpatient, outpatient, day‑services, and regional specialties in ophthalmology and ENT.

As an academic teaching hospital affiliated with NUI Galway, it also hosts medical students on campus, significantly increasing daily footfall and vehicle traffic throughout the facility.

The Challenge

Visitors Got Stuck Circling Car Parks

SUH’s multiple on-site car parks frequently reached capacity, causing stress for visitors who circled looking for space.

Congestion spilled into internal roads, affecting patient punctuality and traffic flow. The hospital needed a parking guidance system that would reduce frustration and lead visitors smoothly to available spaces.

While conducting an operational review of the hospital's car parks with HSE Estates and Boyle Construction, Power Right Fire, Energy & Security identified the need for a more intelligent, or "smarter," management system. According to Richard O'Boyle of Power Right, the initial system was causing major issues.

"Staff were frequently unsure if their designated car parks were full, which led them to park in areas reserved for visitors and patients.

This created two main problems: Parking Scarcity: Visitors and patients, who were originally referred to as "customers," had trouble finding open spaces.

Visitor Confusion: As a result, visitors would often get lost while looking for a spot, as they were directed to areas that were already full.The core issue wasn't a lack of overall parking spaces but a failure to effectively guide car park users to available spaces"

The solution

Smart Counting Guided Visitors Efficiently

Working with distribution partners National Automation | FAAC Ireland (a Nortech strategic partner) and Power Right, (Local System Integrator) Nortech was selected to supply its NorParc count‑management system.

At SUH the system included Nortech NCT200 controllers and RGB‑LED Variable Message Signs (VMS), centrally controlled to track occupancy and direct drivers in real time to car parks with available space. The partnership leveraged Nortech’s long experience in vehicle access and counting systems to ensure reliable integration with minimal disruption to hospital operations.

Reliable Technology, Trusted Support

Liaising with National Automation and Power Right, Nortech ensured installers could commission the system quickly and with confidence.

The NCT200 controllers offered precise vehicle counting and robust telemetry, while the RGB‑LED signs provided visible, dynamic guidance to drivers.

Feedback from the installer highlighted how straightforward the system was to configure, with clear instructions and excellent technical support both pre‑ and post‑install.

The Results

Visitors Found Parking Faster

Post‑installation, visitor feedback was uniformly positive. Car parks stayed within operational capacity, and traffic that once circled aimlessly was instead steered to available spaces, minimising delays and reducing internal congestion.

As Mark Foley, National Sales Manager at National Automation, noted:

Installers Recommend Nortech

For installers and integrators, including partners like Power Right, the SUH project serves as a clear demonstration of NorParc’s reliable performance and ease of deployment.

The system’s compatibility with existing infrastructure, thoughtful documentation, and ongoing support make it an installer‑friendly solution.

Efficient, Measurable Results

• Traffic flow improved: fewer vehicles circling looking for spaces
• Visitor satisfaction rose, thanks to clear, real‑time guidance
• Hospital congestion decreased, supporting care delivery and parking operation efficiency

Summary for Integrators

This project shows how Nortech solutions can solve real‑world parking challenges in complex environments like hospitals. From precise counting hardware to dynamic VMS displays and installer support, NorParc delivers a measurable impact.

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