Hospital Car Parking

System

Well - as everyone's entitled to it - here's my 2p's worth:-

Some of the points mentioned above seem to imply that we should consider public transport etc. when travelling to hospitals.

Can we just remember that these are Hospitals we are visiting - last time I visited A&E it was just that - An emergency. I wasn't going to wait 20 minutes for the next bus when my son is short of breath and turning blue! Also I'm damned if i'm messing about with stupod change to and from the machine when I need to park and get to see someone very quickly!

Also, in the small hours of the night when my wife denotes that her pregnancy is close to birth,I'm going to DRIVE her to the hospital. Why because it's more convenient than giving birth at the bus stop.

Also, I used to think that my N.I. contributions paid for facilities at hospitals - this should include parking. It's yet another stealth tax that's imposed on us taxpayers.

I disagree entirely with these charges - I don't even get anything for it by way of security or even some tarmac on the car park. I stroll through a bumpy puddle soaked revenue earing car park only to find some guy in a yellow jacket slapping tickets on cars. These are visitors that may be distressed or seeing sick people etc.

It should stop now! As was rightly said earlier what's next an 0870 number for an ambulance?

Right...I'm off my soap box now!

stustu92

My view is:

as a tax payer i begrudge paying for services time and time again. so when i pay my tax it'd be nice to think that is all i have to pay to use said services. However, if hospitals decide they need extra funding and charge for car parking, then they should expect a minority to take a 'money saving' approach to parking fees. in my own experience i find it disgraceful that just because a motorist doesn't carry his/her change jar around on their person, said motorist is penalised upto the next available denomination of change for their ticket, as these machines never give change. So not just willing to charge for parking, hospitals authorise themselves to relieve motorists of extra cash. All for the service already paid for...

Also, while it may be illegal to take the kind chaps ticket when he says it has 2 and a half hours left on it, may i ask the morally conscious among us, do you all obey speed limits rigidly??

NuSaver_2

There is a letter on this subject in Auto Express this week.

The point being made is that "Pay and Display" parking at hospitals is unfair because if you are attending an appointment you do not know how long you will be.

On a good day you might only be half an hour, but you could be there a lot longer, so you end up paying for more time than you need or risking a parking fine.

Tony_H_3

I took my daughter to the hospital for an appointment today, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a Land Rover exit the car park by driving between a parked car, lamp post & over a grass verge!! :-/ Now that really is cheeky, according to the security guard he had been clocked on CCTV and they will be intouch!! ;D

sam1970

Iam a hospital doctor and i believe that the income from car parks goes into the salaries and bonuses of fat cats(chief executives and other managers) who will do anything to increase the revenue so they will guarantee the bonuses at the end of the year. the hospitals dont need all these managers and accountants...it needs more doctors and nurses. 2 of my colleagues had their cars broken into inspite of the alleged security and inspite of the fact that we pay to park our cars...it is a complete rip-off

jozshi

I'm a speech therapist and I work at the local hospital once a week. They've just started a whole new parking system there, which seems to involve employing 6 chaps, who all sit in a little cabin and occasionally venture out to slap warnings on cars without permits! >:(

As a result of this new system, all staff have had to pay a £10 deposit for their permits (previously free) - bet that money's not just sitting in a pot somewhere waiting to be refunded! The fees for patients and visitors aren't as bad as at some hospitals, but I totally agree that it should be free.

loopyloo_4

Only just seen this thread. I have to agree tht having to pay to go to hospital seems ludicrous to me when we already pay for prescriptions and National Insurance.

My local hospital charges £2.50 on exit of their carpark regardless of how long you are in there. Unfortunately though for us is that the carpark is usually always full so you more often than not have to pay to get out even though you havent managed to find a space.

The hospital says you can come into the main reception and ask for a refund but you have to have proof. I'm not sure where you would park while you are in the main reception or how you would get proff tha tyou couldnt park in the first place ??? :-/

If I have a hospital appointment at say 10am I have to be there by 9 to keep driving around until a space becomes available, otherwise I miss the appointment and og to the back of the waiting list again.

terrierlady

you have opened my eyes, our local cottage hospital is free parking; lots of good treatments, they lend out tens machines etc so there are some points to living out in the sticks,
one downside is the problem of not enough beds sometimes men and women have to share the same wards; it does have a curtain half way up but everyone hates it, they do promise that they will end the practise soon?

Sunny_Boy_2

I was in and out of the Hospital C/Park last week due to my little one being admitted (all is fine how ). Anyway during the 3 days he was in, I was paying something like £5-8 pound on each stay depending upon how long I was actually in the car Park. When my son was released I read on a notice board that the hospital issued a 5 day pass for £10. If I had know sooner, I would have saved quite a few pounds. It might be worthwhile asking if your hospital has a similar scheme. The hospital my little one was at was Northwick Park, Harrow, West London - in case anyone else here uses it.

Regards,

Sunny

lisyloo

If you aren't disabled etc or have babies to carry then you could also consider parking on public streets nearby and walking.

I don't know the particular area in question but I am questioning the need to park right by the door if the person is able and doesn't have anything heavy to carry.