This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/02/free-hospital-parking-daily-mirror-jeremy-corbyn
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Why free hospital parking isn't as good as it sounds | Why free hospital parking isn't as good as it sounds |
| (14 days later) | |
| It sounds like an inarguable idea – indeed the Daily Mirror and Jeremy Corbyn are in favour – but the more you look into it, the worse an idea it becomes | |
| Contact author | |
| Tue 2 Jan 2018 08.00 GMT | |
| Last modified on Tue 2 Jan 2018 15.11 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| The Daily Mirror has an illustrious history of campaigning, most recently helping to persuade ministers to enact an opt-out system for organ donation in England, as already existed in Scotland and Wales. But I’m afraid their latest crusade is a mistake. | The Daily Mirror has an illustrious history of campaigning, most recently helping to persuade ministers to enact an opt-out system for organ donation in England, as already existed in Scotland and Wales. But I’m afraid their latest crusade is a mistake. |
| Backed by, among others, trade unions and Jeremy Corbyn – for whom it is official Labour policy – the paper seeks the abolition of all parking charges at NHS hospitals in England, for patients, visitors and staff. | Backed by, among others, trade unions and Jeremy Corbyn – for whom it is official Labour policy – the paper seeks the abolition of all parking charges at NHS hospitals in England, for patients, visitors and staff. |
| It is generally popular, and billed as an obvious and fair reform, which would benefit those most in need. Unfortunately, it’s a lot more complicated than that. | It is generally popular, and billed as an obvious and fair reform, which would benefit those most in need. Unfortunately, it’s a lot more complicated than that. |
| Free parking is fundamentally regressive, a subsidy to people who tend to be richer than average | Free parking is fundamentally regressive, a subsidy to people who tend to be richer than average |
| The first point to stress is that I’m not arguing against reforms to the way hospital parking is currently administered and charged. As is regularly documented, too many systems are unwieldy and over-complex, with many only permitting cash payments, or forcing visitors to pay in advance when they might have little idea how long they will stay. | The first point to stress is that I’m not arguing against reforms to the way hospital parking is currently administered and charged. As is regularly documented, too many systems are unwieldy and over-complex, with many only permitting cash payments, or forcing visitors to pay in advance when they might have little idea how long they will stay. |
| Charges can sometimes also seem unreasonably high, and there could be an argument for imposing a cap, or perhaps systems whereby regular visitors such as relatives of long-term patients could avoid the fees racking up. | Charges can sometimes also seem unreasonably high, and there could be an argument for imposing a cap, or perhaps systems whereby regular visitors such as relatives of long-term patients could avoid the fees racking up. |
| But opening up all NHS hospital car parks to free parking at any time, for any duration, to anyone who works there or has reason to visit? That’s a different matter altogether. | But opening up all NHS hospital car parks to free parking at any time, for any duration, to anyone who works there or has reason to visit? That’s a different matter altogether. |
| The first error is that it won’t necessarily make parking any easier, just hard in a different way. There are something close to 600,000 staff at hospitals in England, and about 40,000 inpatient admissions a day. That’s a lot of people seeking a free resource. | The first error is that it won’t necessarily make parking any easier, just hard in a different way. There are something close to 600,000 staff at hospitals in England, and about 40,000 inpatient admissions a day. That’s a lot of people seeking a free resource. |
| In Scotland, patients’ associations have complained that car parks at many hospitals, made free in 2008, are so permanently full that some people have had to leave their vehicle a 15-minute walk away – thus missing appointments. In Wales, which also has free parking, one hospital had to build a new multistorey car park and employ an external contractor to enforce rules. Without fees to cover the costs, this is money that could otherwise be spent on patient care. | In Scotland, patients’ associations have complained that car parks at many hospitals, made free in 2008, are so permanently full that some people have had to leave their vehicle a 15-minute walk away – thus missing appointments. In Wales, which also has free parking, one hospital had to build a new multistorey car park and employ an external contractor to enforce rules. Without fees to cover the costs, this is money that could otherwise be spent on patient care. |
| This is a vital point. Parking is never free – parking without a charge is merely a subsidy to the motorist, and it can be a significant one. Donald Shoup, a US economist with a long-standing fascination with parking, has calculated that in 12 US cities the average construction cost for an above-ground parking space is about £18,000, several times the average net worth of an African-American family. | This is a vital point. Parking is never free – parking without a charge is merely a subsidy to the motorist, and it can be a significant one. Donald Shoup, a US economist with a long-standing fascination with parking, has calculated that in 12 US cities the average construction cost for an above-ground parking space is about £18,000, several times the average net worth of an African-American family. |
| This is the other key point – free parking is fundamentally regressive, a subsidy to people who tend to be richer than average. Many politicians, and newspapers, see the car as the default travel choice for everyone, and of course if you’re outside a town or city, often dreadful public transport means a motor vehicle might be your only means of getting to the nearest hospital. | This is the other key point – free parking is fundamentally regressive, a subsidy to people who tend to be richer than average. Many politicians, and newspapers, see the car as the default travel choice for everyone, and of course if you’re outside a town or city, often dreadful public transport means a motor vehicle might be your only means of getting to the nearest hospital. |
| But this ignores the fact that the poorer you are, the less likely you are to drive. Government statistics show that in the lowest income quintile, 44% of English households have no access to a car, with about a third of the second-lowest band facing the same situation. In the top income quintile, just 12% are car-less, with about half owning two or more. | But this ignores the fact that the poorer you are, the less likely you are to drive. Government statistics show that in the lowest income quintile, 44% of English households have no access to a car, with about a third of the second-lowest band facing the same situation. In the top income quintile, just 12% are car-less, with about half owning two or more. |
| It is therefore better-off patients and visitors who are more likely to take advantage of free hospital parking, rather than use public transport, or walk, cycle or take an expensive cab. It’s the same for staff: the Mirror’s campaign is statistically far more likely to benefit a consultant than a porter. | It is therefore better-off patients and visitors who are more likely to take advantage of free hospital parking, rather than use public transport, or walk, cycle or take an expensive cab. It’s the same for staff: the Mirror’s campaign is statistically far more likely to benefit a consultant than a porter. |
| It thus seems odd for the paper to argue so vehemently in favour of such a subsidy rather than, for example, campaigning for better public transport to hospitals, or safe cycling and walking routes, changes which would bring benefits, however poor you are. | It thus seems odd for the paper to argue so vehemently in favour of such a subsidy rather than, for example, campaigning for better public transport to hospitals, or safe cycling and walking routes, changes which would bring benefits, however poor you are. |
| The final reason this is a misplaced crusade is ever more simple still. A very large number of people are in hospital in the first place, thus requiring people to treat and visit them, because they lead inactive lives – a problem linked very closely to over-reliance on the car. | The final reason this is a misplaced crusade is ever more simple still. A very large number of people are in hospital in the first place, thus requiring people to treat and visit them, because they lead inactive lives – a problem linked very closely to over-reliance on the car. |
| It’s hard to over-stress the significance of this public health catastrophe, which many experts predict will eventually bankrupt the NHS. An estimated 85,000 people in England and Wales die early every year because of sedentary living, with hundreds of thousands more needing treatment for ailments associated with such lifestyles, such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many cancers. | It’s hard to over-stress the significance of this public health catastrophe, which many experts predict will eventually bankrupt the NHS. An estimated 85,000 people in England and Wales die early every year because of sedentary living, with hundreds of thousands more needing treatment for ailments associated with such lifestyles, such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many cancers. |
| The statistics for inactivity can shock. One study from August found that 41% of middle-aged English people fail to walk for 10 minutes or more continuously every month. | The statistics for inactivity can shock. One study from August found that 41% of middle-aged English people fail to walk for 10 minutes or more continuously every month. |
| This isn’t to argue that nurses on a night shift at a rural hospital, let alone ill patients, should be forced to walk or cycle to the wards. But it does seem perverse to specifically incentivise inactive travel when other options might be there, not to mention placing even more demands on the NHS through factors connected to driving such as smog and crashes. | This isn’t to argue that nurses on a night shift at a rural hospital, let alone ill patients, should be forced to walk or cycle to the wards. But it does seem perverse to specifically incentivise inactive travel when other options might be there, not to mention placing even more demands on the NHS through factors connected to driving such as smog and crashes. |
| Parking is a strange subject, at once arousing hugely passionate feelings in many people, and yet rarely understood properly. Andrew Gilligan, the journalist who was formerly London’s commissioner for cycling, once described it as “the third rail of politics – if you touch it, you die”. | Parking is a strange subject, at once arousing hugely passionate feelings in many people, and yet rarely understood properly. Andrew Gilligan, the journalist who was formerly London’s commissioner for cycling, once described it as “the third rail of politics – if you touch it, you die”. |
| I understand why people believe England’s hospitals should all have universal free parking. I also see why the Mirror and Corbyn would see it as a good cause. | I understand why people believe England’s hospitals should all have universal free parking. I also see why the Mirror and Corbyn would see it as a good cause. |
| But the more you look into it, the worse an idea it seems. | But the more you look into it, the worse an idea it seems. |
| Peter Walker is a Guardian political correspondent | Peter Walker is a Guardian political correspondent |
| Hospitals | |
| Opinion | |
| Health | |
| Labour | |
| Jeremy Corbyn | |
| Daily Mirror | |
| Motoring | |
| comment | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |