hospital car parking charges

klondyke

"Originally Posted by JasonLVC
I fully understand the 'tax on the sick' argument, you're right - but sick people CHOOSE to drive to the hospital."

Not necessarily - my husband has been driving me to clinics etc after major surgery because I was not physically fit to get a bus. He has spent a fortune on car parking fees, though while I was an inpatient, he would get the bus to visit.

Still, for those appointments where he doesn't need to be with me (in case I forget what consultant has said!) he now goes off to local tescos, does the shopping and parks there till he gets my text message that I am ready for collection (like a parcel!). Saves a fortune AND gets the shopping done!

Well done, Charing Cross Hospital - at least we can get a permit there for parking while undergoing chemotherapy, which I don't really choose to have!

jamescredmond

inkie wrote:

OK then get this - I am a minister, therefore spend a lot of time visiting the hospitals to see sick people. When i moved to the area, on the first visit I enquired to see if i could have a permit which would allow me to use the (reduced) staff carpark, as I had spent over one hour trying to find somehwere to park. I was told by Mr Jobsworth aka the parking attendant that no, I would have to use the public car park, and that i would have tompay the going rate and claim it back of the church. 'Well actually, the trust has a duty to meet any spiritual needs of patients (I was a nurse/midwife before coming into ministry)" So what ? was his answer. So now i refuse to pay - I turn up, park up in the first free spot I see and put a note in the window saying minister of religion on call. If for any reason they clamped me, then revenge time, I have a clamp too, in the boot of my car and would clamp their car parking van, and not remove mine until they removed theirs. Sorted!

Aaaahh! what a good post. says it all, really.

jamescredmond

pickledtink wrote:

Obviously you can easily afford such charges. Please try to remember that not everyone is as fortunate.
Also why not ensure that all hospitals do in fact have the same policy as your local hospital before wading in making self satisfied comments? My local hospital does not do any of those things you list so smugly. It's pay up or be clamped.
So no I do not feel foolish.
As to your reference to my friend and neighbour: Your comments are beneath contempt.
Perhaps you should think before you post such crass repulsive remarks.

So you're not familiar with dmg24's rants?!

Shokami

My local hospital charges staff parking. They also have a 'green policy', and run a transport bus for staff who live locally. The hospital uses the staff parking fees to run the bus, which is free. So, if you live outside the bus route you have to pay to park, effectively subsidising those lucky enough to have free transport to work|

eclipse

Unfortunately hospitals only have limited space for parking. Sites of hospitals are often what used to be the outskirts of towns but are now surrounded by houses (e.g. Southampton General Hospital used to be right on the edge of Southampton when originally built). If they were to provide more parking, they'd have to buy a row of houses and knock it down. I think we can all see the cost implications there. So yes, they make parking expensive, to dissuade people from parking there. They put money into public transport - my local hospital in Exeter is on not one but three bus routes (1 "normal" bus, 2 park and rides). Staff have to pay for parking too - I have heard of staff arriving over an hour early for an early shift, just to get a parking space. All in all a total nightmare, without an easy answer.

kenshaz

Whiston Hospital has built a multi storey car park outside the Hospital and buses the visitors to departments,so that encourages others to park in streets around the Hospital ,because that is free and is less trouble

eclipse

kenshaz wrote:

that is free and is less trouble

except for the people that live there and can't park outside their front doors...

kenshaz

eclipse wrote:

except for the people that live there and can't park outside their front doors...

But you have no legal right to prevent any-one parking outside your house ,the road does not belong to you,unless of course it is a private,or restricted parking or permit area.The problem is houses constructed prior to every household having a car ,do not have off road parking,that does not give you exclusive rights on the roadway. Another point of view, narrow streets ,terrace houses,in the evening at week-ends with residents parking blocks the access of large emergency vehicles ie fire appliances.
Non residents parking would not involve over-night stays

TMFTP

I love the "take public transport" option.

Got something particularly virulent and transmittable? Get on the bus! Share it with 50 other people (or, more likely, 5 chavs)!

Not have a hospital in your town? Get a bus to the town centre, another bus to the train station, catch a train (walking through a couple of carriages spreading your anthrax as you go), bus to town centre wherever the hospital is, then town centre to the hospital. Other people infected = approx 100.

Live in the country? Walk a couple of miles to the nearest bus stop, wait an hour and a half because your bus runs once every two hours....etc, etc, etc.

Or...just get in your car. What silly person reckons public transport is the answer? He's what? Prescott's brother?