Post by Bob on Sept 26, 2010 8:37:00 GMT 1
With money tight it is sensible that charges should be made for parking. It is not the job of the NHS to provide parking services so where they do they should charge people to use them. Many do not need to drive and could easilly go by bus. So their is an environment benefit as well.
HOSPITALS should be allowed to charge for parking again to help fund the cost of patient care, a Welsh AM has claimed.
Andrew RT Davies, Conservative shadow Assembly health spokesman, said he believed the policy needed to be overturned. Free parking was introduced on April 1, 2008, when the scheme was rolled out at about 120 of Wales's 130 hospitals.
The commitment to free hospital parking was part of the coalition agreement for the Assembly government by Labour and Plaid. Assembly Health Minister Edwina Hart said when the plans were unveiled: "Over time, all NHS patients, visitors and those who care for them will not have the expense or inconvenience of charges."
But Mr Davies said: "My view is every pound spent on free parking is £1 less spent on cardiac services, stroke services and cancer treatment.
"Most people would be prepared to pay £1.
"Since car parking charges have gone in some hospitals in Wales it has led to people parking in car parks all day because they don't have any parking attendants. But for long-term cancer patients it's not wrong for them to have permits for car parking."
HOSPITALS should be allowed to charge for parking again to help fund the cost of patient care, a Welsh AM has claimed.
Andrew RT Davies, Conservative shadow Assembly health spokesman, said he believed the policy needed to be overturned. Free parking was introduced on April 1, 2008, when the scheme was rolled out at about 120 of Wales's 130 hospitals.
The commitment to free hospital parking was part of the coalition agreement for the Assembly government by Labour and Plaid. Assembly Health Minister Edwina Hart said when the plans were unveiled: "Over time, all NHS patients, visitors and those who care for them will not have the expense or inconvenience of charges."
But Mr Davies said: "My view is every pound spent on free parking is £1 less spent on cardiac services, stroke services and cancer treatment.
"Most people would be prepared to pay £1.
"Since car parking charges have gone in some hospitals in Wales it has led to people parking in car parks all day because they don't have any parking attendants. But for long-term cancer patients it's not wrong for them to have permits for car parking."
