Patient groups to have say on parking policy

PLANS to scrap parking charges at Oldham’s hospital has been rejected by the coalition government because the NHS needs “every penny”.

Labour had pledged to look at providing all inpatients with a parking pass so relatives could visit them in hospital for free.

But Conservative Health Minister Simon Burns announced fees must stay because there is no money to cover the hole it would leave in health service coffers.

A spokesman for The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Oldham Hospital, said: “The Government has clearly stated that it is for local trusts to make their own decisions on parking policies and arrangements and has echoed the need to take account of patient opinion.

“The views of our patients and service users are important to us and we intend to invite representation through existing patient groups when considering any future updates to our car parking policy.

“We currently have a number of car parking arrangements to support patients and visitors.

“For example, Blue Badge holders park free and we offer reduced price parking for patients or visitors attending for up to seven days or more, or on a frequent basis.

“We have leased off-site parking close to the Royal Oldham Hospital and have asked our staff to park there so that parking spaces within the hospital boundary can be made available for patients.”

Car parking charges at the hospital are free for up to 15 minutes, 15 minutes to four hours £2, £4 for four to 10 hours, and £5.50 for 10 to 24 hours.

The Department of Health estimated that subsidising hospital parking would cost the NHS more than £100 million, while failing to invest the cash in healthcare would lead to the loss of a further £200 million in patient benefits.

But Wales and Scotland, where responsibility for health is devolved, have free hospital parking.

Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary and a candidate for the Labour leadership, said families would be disappointed by the decision.

He said: “When someone has a relative in hospital it’s a very stressful time and worrying about parking tickets and charges can make this worse.

“That’s why we had a modest plan, funded by back-office efficiencies, to phase out charges for inpatients, so the most vulnerable don’t end up paying the most. It has huge public support.”