Row over hospital parking charges (From Swindon Advertiser)

Row over hospital parking charges

1:20pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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Great Western Hospital could face fresh scrutiny over its parking after a Which? report revealed a catalogue of problems patients face with NHS car parks.

The national report was compiled from more than 1,000 members of the general public between February 12 and 14 this year.

Problems finding a space, cost and battling confusing payment systems are just some of the difficulties identified through the investigation.

Of 1,001 people who had used an NHS hospital car park in the last two years, 67 per cent thought that the parking charges were too expensive, over half had problems finding a space, with a third of people having to queue to get one.

Which? also used the Freedom of Information Act to find out the profit margins made from car park fees at 23 of England’s busiest trusts, over three years. The request revealed that some UK hospitals make annual profits of £1 million.

Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive, of Which? said: “It’s outrageous that using an NHS hospital car park is such a problematic experience for so many people. Visiting hospital is stressful enough and people don’t need the added burden of battling with the parking system.”

Although Great Western Hospital is not specifically named in the report, a more detailed examination is due to be released by the watchdog imminently, meaning the hospital could once again come under fire.

In October last year GWH was criticised for failing to turn a sizeable profit despite earning more than £3.2m from parking over the previous five years.

The comments followed an Adver Freedom of Information request, detailing how it had expected to make a further loss of £106,031 in 2010/11.

Hospital bosses said the millions went on parking costs including energy for lighting, cost of tickets and permits, security, staff and capital charges.

In the same month Chris Williams got a parking ticket for abandoning his car as wife Emma went into early labour.

But after appealing the ticket, the couple, from Wheeler Avenue in Upper Stratton, were told their imminent birth of their daughter was not ‘reasonable grounds’ to let them off the £70 fine.

It was only after the Adver intervened that Swindon Council, who imposes fines on behalf of the hospital, agreed to reconsider the ticket.

People can tell Which? about their experiences of using NHS hospital car parks at which.campaigns@ which.co.uk Mark Bagnall, Director of Estates & Facilities Management, said “We do understand how difficult it can be for some people coming to the Great Western hospital to find a car parking space especially when it is busy. We are in the middle of a consultation with staff, the outcome of which will help to ease some of the problems.

“We feel that are parking charges are fair and the same as those charged by Swindon Borough Council. We also have concessions for some patients and for those that attend hospital frequently.

“In response to comments on pay and display we are currently assessing the feasibility of changing to a pay on exit scheme, this means people will only pay for what they need.”