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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/27/hospitals-making-hundreds-of-millions-from-parking-charges
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| Hospitals making hundreds of millions from parking charges | Hospitals making hundreds of millions from parking charges |
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| Hospitals are making hundreds of millions of pounds from car parking charges, with more than four in 10 NHS trusts increasing the cost of a stay in the past year. | Hospitals are making hundreds of millions of pounds from car parking charges, with more than four in 10 NHS trusts increasing the cost of a stay in the past year. |
| An investigation using freedom of information requests has found that some trusts have doubled the price of car parking for patients and visitors. | An investigation using freedom of information requests has found that some trusts have doubled the price of car parking for patients and visitors. |
| Analysis of data published by NHS Digital in October shows that NHS trusts made more than £226m in 2017-18 from parking, including penalty fines. | Analysis of data published by NHS Digital in October shows that NHS trusts made more than £226m in 2017-18 from parking, including penalty fines. |
| A total of 124 NHS trusts responded to the Press Association requests on parking charges, with 53 (43%) reporting an increase in prices in the past year for visitors or staff, or both. The remaining 71 (57%) said they had not put up their prices. | A total of 124 NHS trusts responded to the Press Association requests on parking charges, with 53 (43%) reporting an increase in prices in the past year for visitors or staff, or both. The remaining 71 (57%) said they had not put up their prices. |
| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, confirmed his party planned to scrap hospital car parking charges. He said: “It’s wrong to charge people to visit loved ones in hospital and the staff who care for them. Labour will scrap hospital car parking charges.” | |
| The Liberal Democrats’ health spokeswoman, Judith Jolly, said the charges amounted to “taxing the sick” and that although hospitals were struggling with financial pressure, it was “not a green light to charge patients”. | The Liberal Democrats’ health spokeswoman, Judith Jolly, said the charges amounted to “taxing the sick” and that although hospitals were struggling with financial pressure, it was “not a green light to charge patients”. |
| Rachel Power, the chief executive of the Patients Association, said: “Charges for car parking at hospitals are a charge on people who are unwell, levied on them because they are unwell.” | Rachel Power, the chief executive of the Patients Association, said: “Charges for car parking at hospitals are a charge on people who are unwell, levied on them because they are unwell.” |
| Lancashire Teaching Hospitals doubled the price of a stay of four to six hours from £3 to £6. A stay of two to four hours jumped from £3 to £5.50, but the trust reduced its one-hour stay from £3 to £2.50. | Lancashire Teaching Hospitals doubled the price of a stay of four to six hours from £3 to £6. A stay of two to four hours jumped from £3 to £5.50, but the trust reduced its one-hour stay from £3 to £2.50. |
| Some of the trusts that have put up prices are making millions every year from parking. Frimley Health in Surrey, one of the highest-earning trusts in England, made £4,452,481 from charging staff, patients and visitors in 2017-18. This was up on the £4,126,587 it made the year before. | Some of the trusts that have put up prices are making millions every year from parking. Frimley Health in Surrey, one of the highest-earning trusts in England, made £4,452,481 from charging staff, patients and visitors in 2017-18. This was up on the £4,126,587 it made the year before. |
| University Hospitals of Leicester made £4,421,862 from parking in 2017-18, a 13% rise on £3,880,587 the previous year. In the past year it has also increased prices across the board. A two-hour stay for patients and visitors jumped from £2.50 to £2.80, while a four-hour stay rose from £4 to £4.40. | University Hospitals of Leicester made £4,421,862 from parking in 2017-18, a 13% rise on £3,880,587 the previous year. In the past year it has also increased prices across the board. A two-hour stay for patients and visitors jumped from £2.50 to £2.80, while a four-hour stay rose from £4 to £4.40. |
| Such parking charges have been abolished in Wales and most of Scotland, although they persist in England. Some hospitals have defended the revenues, saying some or all of the money is put back into patient care or is spent on maintaining car parks. | Such parking charges have been abolished in Wales and most of Scotland, although they persist in England. Some hospitals have defended the revenues, saying some or all of the money is put back into patient care or is spent on maintaining car parks. |
| Moira Fraser-Pearce, the director of policy and campaigns at Macmillan Cancer Support, urged people to check what discounts were available for cancer patients. | |
| “Cancer can have a significant impact on people’s finances and if they have to pay to park at hospital in England, these charges can add considerably to this – especially for those undergoing treatment on a daily basis,” she said. | “Cancer can have a significant impact on people’s finances and if they have to pay to park at hospital in England, these charges can add considerably to this – especially for those undergoing treatment on a daily basis,” she said. |
| Unison’s head of health, Sara Gorton, said: “If the government put more money into the health service, charges could be scrapped, and nurses, porters and their NHS colleagues would no longer have to pay through the nose simply to park at work.” | Unison’s head of health, Sara Gorton, said: “If the government put more money into the health service, charges could be scrapped, and nurses, porters and their NHS colleagues would no longer have to pay through the nose simply to park at work.” |
| A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We have made it very clear that patients, their families and our hardworking staff should not be subjected to unfair parking charges. | A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We have made it very clear that patients, their families and our hardworking staff should not be subjected to unfair parking charges. |
| “NHS trusts are responsible for these charges and ensuring revenue goes back into frontline services, and we want to see trusts coming up with options that put staff, patients and their families first.” | “NHS trusts are responsible for these charges and ensuring revenue goes back into frontline services, and we want to see trusts coming up with options that put staff, patients and their families first.” |
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