NHS hospitals make millions from car parking charges

Working for a boarding school, I make many unplanned visits to hospitals in the area, usually as a matter of emergency. The last thing on my mind at such times should be 'have I got money for parking'. I'm not going shopping - I'm making an emergency visit to a hospital!!!!

Kingston-Upon-Thames - paying to park for a hospital appointment or visit a sick relative £2 per hour. Off street parking for shopping nearby 40p per hour. What does that say about our priorities?

This problem should have been tackled in a sensible way long ago . It is patently unfair that the relatives of especially the long term ill will suffer .

The whole thing needs a complete rethink .

One idea ....Why not instead charge the hundreds if not thousands people who need treatment after binge drinking .

I'm in favour of parking fees at hospitals, particularly if it's a choice between better servces and free parking. If you don't want to pay then walk or travel by public transport. Space is often very restricted in hospital car parks.

If it was cheaper or free there would never be a space to be found and cars would go round endlessly looking for a space.

Try to find a parking space at Aberdeen Royal Inf. Impossible! But at least there is little or no charge

In addition to charging visitors, Bath Royal United Hospital extract over £400 pa from the salary of a front line nurse in 'parking' charges. This doesn't guarantee a space so they often still have to drive around endlessly looking for a space.

Evenings and weekends are fine of course, when the 9-5 army have evaporated. No real reason why most of those couldn't use the park & ride (which doesn't cater for all the shifts of the front line workers)

The staff charge is a percentage of pay, but its capped which means that the execs and other high earners don't pay more than the nurses.

Never fair, as ever.

At some hospitals, if a patient has been in for more than a week, a vistor can ask the Ward Manager to sign a chit for a "free parking card". I have used this facility at 2 separate hospitals. It meant that there was a period shortly after the patient had been admitted when I had to pay (handsomely) but this was mitigated by the knowledge that she was beeing treated. Later, during the convalescence phase, it was free.

Another good practice is where wards have different visiting times, enabling a more efficient use of available car park spaces.

One definite problem with "free" hospital parking is that too many people will use the hospital's facilities as a "park and ride", simply leaving their car there, getting picked up by a colleague who takes them to work - avoiding costly town centre car park charges.

I work at a small hospital in Oxfordshire where the parking is free. When I have to go into Oxford for hospital appointments, then there is a charge. I feel this is taxing the ill and vunerable. But does any PCT or Government care. Of course not!!!