Hospital Parking Charges

[TWR]

Should Nurses have to pay?
Should they be controlled by the Hospital only & the charges going straight back in to the hospital expenses?

[mikey4444]

I have just been reliably informed that not all Welsh Hospitals have free parking, so sorry for the duff info. But my local ones in Swansea don't charge, so I think its a Trust choice whether to or not.

[boxtops]

"Why do Scotland and Wales have free parking but England does not ?. "

Because NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, and NHS England are completely separate bodies these days.

[tonyav]

Thanks boxy, so it's only the NHS England thats skint then !.

[TWR]

Still a Rip Off

[boxtops]

Not necessarily (although NHSE is very strapped for cash) - but Scotland and Wales may have decided to prioritise free or cheap parking, and cut back on something else. There's only a finite amount in any of their pots overall.

[black_cat51]

the problem at ours if if they didn't charge, people would aprk there and walk into town which is only a little way away. They have to make it at least as expensive as the shopping car parks

[tonyav]

Don't Scotland and Wales have free prescriptions as well.

[mikey4444]

We do in Wales tonyav ! Another reason to vote Labour ! ( sorry...I know this is not the proper place but I couldn't resist ! )

[SirOracle]

I agree Minty,very few spaces at present time.

Tony...because NHS is devolved and we can make our own decisions.

[Jeza]

The hospital that Mic was in was not run by the NHS but by Balfour Beatty. They also provided the catering.

[joeluke]

Many workers in other jobs have to pay to park their cars at/near their place of work so why should NHS staff be any different?

People who are switched on park for free on streets near hospitals - it annoys people who live there but who cares?

[beegeebee]

Sorry if I'm a little late to the party!! Problems with parking in some hospitals is that the fees charged are not always falling into the coffers of the hospital. When the notorious PFI's were used to upgrade hospitals, that normally covered the car parks within the hospital grounds. Subsequently it has been discovered (usually by Local Newspaper reporters) that the monies are siphoned off abroad to keep any tax due on the income at the lowest possible level. Governments are aware but, as is normal, nothing done.

[TWR]

Joe, Nurses / Docs / all who work within the Hospital service have very irregular hours, my daughter does, so she can get done for extra time parking due to an Emergency within the hosp, regards the parking on the streets, that's an other issue, if the councils charged decent price instead of ripping the shopper off, more people would use their car parks, our town in a typical example.

[Baldric]

My OH still works for the NHS in East Kent, the parking charge relates to Salary, the more you earn the more you pay!

[Peter Pedant]

The Beeb when they were running with this,
were particular to say only parts of Scotland ( hospitals ) had free parking

[Old_Geezer]

No one should have to pay. Visitors are a necessary part of making the patient happy. Part of the health deal. Drivers should not be used as a cash cow. The cost of adequate parking should be included in the cost of providing the premises from the start. One can understand a system to ensure it is genuine visitors that are parking though.

[EcclesCake]

I visit hospitals on a regular basis as a patient and accept that I pay to park, my treatment is free not the peripherals.

Of the one out patient clinic I visit that is free, a gatekeeper is employed to verify the purpose of the visit.

Staff who work shifts that are outside the normal public transport schedule sho get free parking.

[Old_Geezer]

And it's not just nurses, other health staff such as clerical/management are also expected to pay at present.

[SirOracle]

Peter Pedant Don't know where the BBC get this info. from but it is only the three PFI hospitals in Scotland who charge for parking.

One in Dundee
One in Glasgow
One in Edinburgh