NHS car parking charges
Travel costs, like car parking charges,
can prevent some people from attending appointments which are
vital to their health.
It's alarming to hear that some patients are not attending
appointments due to reasons such as high car parking
charges. In February 2010 the Department of Health (DH) in
England asked for options on how the system could be improved for
NHS patients and their families.
Your views
We asked heart patients, carers, and health service staff
to provide us with their views on this issue, and we
would like to thank everyone who took the time to
submit their views. Here's what you told us:
- while charges may be needed to meet the costs of running car
parks, these are simply too high
- there should be a daily limit on car parking charges
- patients staying in hospital for two nights or more should have
free parking
- patients who have a series of two or more appointments should
have free parking
- there is much more that needs to be done to promote existing
discounts for people on low incomes as most people do not know they
exist
- the NHS could be doing more to promote walking and cycling to
appointments for people well enough to do so, as this would help to
improve the nation's heart health.
We passed these views directly to
the DH.
In September 2010, the Westminster Government announced that
they do not plan to introduce any regulations or guidance on
hospital car parking. Instead they want patients to work with their
local hospitals to improve parking facilities and charges. We will
continue to press for changes to hospital car parking charges
so that these do not provide barriers to patients seeking care.
Parking charges across the UK
Car parking charges are a devolved issue across the UK as
outlined below:
- in Wales, the majority of hospitals currently have free parking
and by the end of 2011 this will be free for patients, staff and
visitors
- in Scotland, car parking is free other than at car parks
operated under the Private Finance Initiative
- in Northern Ireland, parking is free for very ill patients and
their families. Charges for other patients and visitors are a
matter for individual trusts
For further information on any of the above, please email
policy@bhf.org.uk.