Scotland leads way in abolishing NHS car parking charges

By Jayne Warren - 05/09/2008

The Mature Times has frequently criticised the exorbitant car parking charges levied by NHS hospitals  - which are especially unfair on those coping with long-term illnesses or who are 'near disabled' 

themselves. One reader wrote: "The disgraceful parking charges levied on the sick and their relatives is another 'not-so-stealthy' tax levy."  We agree - and are hoping that the announcement that car parking charges are being abolished at NHS hospitals across Scotland might encourage England to follow suit.

 

Scotland's Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced her decision following a review of NHS Boards’ car park charging policies, and an interim 'cap' of £3 per day has already been in place since January.

 

Sturgeon said: “In this 60th anniversary year of NHS Scotland, I am determined that the founding principles of our health service remain intact. Chief among these is that the NHS should be free at the point of delivery - and it is my firm belief that this should apply whether one comes to hospital as a patient, visitor or a member of staff.

 

“It’s simply not fair to expect patients or visitors to have to pay when they come to hospital, when they may be suffering personal anxiety, stress or grief. Put bluntly, a car parking charge is often the last thing people need. The abolition of charges will also help to reduce the financial burden on patients, staff and visitors to hospitals at a time when pressure on family budgets is increasing – another example of the Scottish Government doing what it can to help in tough economic times.

 

“I also expect those NHS Boards with car parks operated under Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs) contracts to work as hard as they can to minimise this inconvenience to visitors by limiting or reducing their charges.”

 

Although many hospital car parks in Scotland are already free, today’s announcement will apply to 14 hospitals where charges still operate.

 

The abolition of charges will take effect from 31st December this year - and in the meantime, NHS Boards are being asked to submit their plans on how they will address potential increases in demand, promotion of greener forms of transport and the potential use of spaces by commuters, shoppers or others. These plans will be assessed and monitored by the Scottish Government to ensure that the parking needs of patients, visitors and staff are balanced.

 

The British Medical Association of Scotland have welcomed the news, and Dr Charles Saunders, Chairman, said: "Charging people to park at hospitals is an indirect tax on healthcare, and we are pleased that the Scottish Government has recognised the financial burden that these charges have put on patients and their relatives when they are at their most vulnerable."

The only exceptions to the axe will be car parks at three hospitals provided under PFI contracts as the costs of early termination would be prohibitive. But even at these, Ms Sturgeon said she wanted NHS Boards to work with contractors to limit and reduce charges until the contracts came to an end.