Patients, staff and visitors will be able to park for free at almost every NHS hospital in Wales by the end of 2011, it will be announced later.
Patients, staff and visitors will be able to park for free at almost every NHS hospital in Wales by the end of 2011, it will be announced later.
The Welsh Assembly Government is expected to confirm free parking will start from 1 April this year.
The Welsh Assembly Government is expected to confirm free parking will start from 1 April this year.
Those hospitals whose parking is run by external companies will have to reduce costs until contracts expire.
Those hospitals whose parking is run by external companies will have to reduce costs until contracts expire.
The changes, the first in the UK, have been welcomed by patient groups but trusts say they will add to pressures.
The changes, the first in the UK, have been welcomed by patient groups but trusts say they will add to pressures.
The reforms will mean that by the end of the current assembly term in 2011, only four hospital sites out of a total of 130 should still have parking charges in place.
The reforms will mean that by the end of the current assembly term in 2011, only four hospital sites out of a total of 130 should still have parking charges in place.
The Welsh NHS Confederation, which brings together all Welsh NHS organisations, said the reforms would "inevitably" add to the pressures placed on trusts.
The Welsh NHS Confederation, which brings together all Welsh NHS organisations, said the reforms would "inevitably" add to the pressures placed on trusts.
'Tax on sick'
'Tax on sick'
Nearly £5.4m was collected by NHS Trusts in Wales from hospital parking charges in 2006/07.
Nearly £5.4m was collected by NHS Trusts in Wales from hospital parking charges in 2006/07.
It led to the British Medical Association (BMA) last week demanding car park charges be scrapped, claiming they are "a tax on the sick".
It led to the British Medical Association (BMA) last week demanding car park charges be scrapped, claiming they are "a tax on the sick".
It will be even more important now to find new ways of controlling car parks to avoid misuse, particularly where hospitals are near town centres Mike Ponton, of the Welsh NHS Confederation
It will be even more important now to find new ways of controlling car parks to avoid misuse, particularly where hospitals are near town centres Mike Ponton, of the Welsh NHS Confederation
The announcement will fulfil the assembly government's commitment to reform charges for hospital parking, which was set out in the One Wales document outlining the agenda of the Labour and Plaid Cymru coalition.
The announcement will fulfil the assembly government's commitment to reform charges for hospital parking, which was set out in the One Wales document outlining the agenda of the Labour and Plaid Cymru coalition.
Health Minister Edwina Hart is expected to say: "Car parking charges fall heavily on people frequently attending NHS hospitals, whether they are patients, staff or visitors.
Health Minister Edwina Hart is expected to say: "Car parking charges fall heavily on people frequently attending NHS hospitals, whether they are patients, staff or visitors.
"They are at best an inconvenience and at worst an unfair expense.
"They are at best an inconvenience and at worst an unfair expense.
"Over time, all NHS patients, visitors and those who care for them will not have the expense or inconvenience of charges.
"Over time, all NHS patients, visitors and those who care for them will not have the expense or inconvenience of charges.
"By the end of the current assembly term, the vast majority of NHS sites will have free parking for all."
"By the end of the current assembly term, the vast majority of NHS sites will have free parking for all."
It is believed that NHS trusts with external contracts will also have to reduce parking fees by funding schemes to reduce costs until deals expire or are ended.
It is believed that NHS trusts with external contracts will also have to reduce parking fees by funding schemes to reduce costs until deals expire or are ended.
Cath Lindley, general manager for Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, said: "Cancer patients have long been calling for parking costs to be scrapped.
Cath Lindley, general manager for Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, said: "Cancer patients have long been calling for parking costs to be scrapped.
"On average, cancer patients make 60 trips to hospital from diagnosis to treatment to follow up, and as a result they are hit particularly hard, both financially and emotionally, by travelling costs and unfair parking charges.
"On average, cancer patients make 60 trips to hospital from diagnosis to treatment to follow up, and as a result they are hit particularly hard, both financially and emotionally, by travelling costs and unfair parking charges.
PRIVATELY-RUN HOSPITAL PARKING Princess of Wales, Bridgend 2006-2011 Glanrhyd, Bridgend 2006-2011 Neath Port Talbo 2002-2032 Univ Hospital of Wales, Cardiff 1996-2021 West Wales General, Carm 2003-2018Prince Phillip, Llanelli 2003-2018 Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan 2006-2011 Wrexham Maelor 2005-2008 Royal Glamorgan 2006-2011 Withybush, Pembs 2004-2009 Contracts for private contractors operating hospital parking. Source: Welsh Assembly Government
PRIVATELY-RUN HOSPITAL PARKING Princess of Wales, Bridgend 2006-2011 Glanrhyd, Bridgend 2006-2011 Neath Port Talbo 2002-2032 Univ Hospital of Wales, Cardiff 1996-2021 West Wales General, Carm 2003-2018Prince Phillip, Llanelli 2003-2018 Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan 2006-2011 Wrexham Maelor 2005-2008 Royal Glamorgan 2006-2011 Withybush, Pembs 2004-2009 Contracts for private contractors operating hospital parking. Source: Welsh Assembly Government
"These reforms would go some way towards reducing the financial burden that can come with a cancer diagnosis."
"These reforms would go some way towards reducing the financial burden that can come with a cancer diagnosis."
It is expected that the additional costs to the NHS in Wales will be met from within annual NHS funding allocations.
It is expected that the additional costs to the NHS in Wales will be met from within annual NHS funding allocations.
It is also understood trusts will be required to submit plans on how they will deal with additional costs, potential increases in demand, promotion of green transport modes and the potential use of spaces by commuters and shoppers.
It is also understood trusts will be required to submit plans on how they will deal with additional costs, potential increases in demand, promotion of green transport modes and the potential use of spaces by commuters and shoppers.
Mike Ponton, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said: "It costs a lot of money to run car parks and the dilemma now is how to meet these costs without impacting on patient care.
Mike Ponton, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said: "It costs a lot of money to run car parks and the dilemma now is how to meet these costs without impacting on patient care.
"It will inevitably add to the pressures placed on trusts to provide services and balance the books.
"It will inevitably add to the pressures placed on trusts to provide services and balance the books.
"It will be even more important now to find new ways of controlling car parks to avoid misuse, particularly where hospitals are near town centres."
"It will be even more important now to find new ways of controlling car parks to avoid misuse, particularly where hospitals are near town centres."
There are no plans to abolish the charges in England, although a Department of Health spokesman said "all government polices are always under review".
There are no plans to abolish the charges in England, although a Department of Health spokesman said "all government polices are always under review".
Are you affected by this story? Do you think parking should be free in hospital car parks? What should hospitals do with the money raised from car park charges?
