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| £3 cap on hospital parking charge | £3 cap on hospital parking charge |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Car parking charges at hospitals across Scotland will be capped at £3 per day in the New Year, it has been announced. | Car parking charges at hospitals across Scotland will be capped at £3 per day in the New Year, it has been announced. |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon decided on the cap after an independent review by a group of experts. | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon decided on the cap after an independent review by a group of experts. |
| New guidance will be issued to health boards about the way they allocate staff permits. | New guidance will be issued to health boards about the way they allocate staff permits. |
| The expert panel recommended charges should only be introduced as a last resort. Public sector union Unison issued a "cautious welcome". | |
| The maximum charge will be introduced in January though it will not immediately apply to PFI hospitals. | |
| A further review of the cap, and PFI contracts, will take place and a maximum charge will be introduced at every hospital in Scotland in the summer. | |
| Excessive charges | |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "The presumption is that car parking should be provided free. | |
| "However, the review group recognised - as I do - that charges are necessary in some circumstances. | |
| "In these cases, it is important that patients and staff are treated fairly and do not face excessive charges. | |
| "I believe that a £3 a day cap strikes the right balance between the pressures faced by boards and the interests of patients and staff." | |
| New guidance will be issued to health boards in the New Year. | |
| Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board had faced protests from staff and patients. | |
| Parking in the health board area can cost up to £7 per day. | |
| A spokesman for the health board said: "We await detailed guidance in the new year. | |
| "In the meantime, we will continue to apply our existing car parking policy. | |
| "The focus of our approach has absolutely been on the needs of patients and visitors and will remain so." |