Free hospital patient parking-official: Radio 4 now.

ampersand

...just hearing this on'T Wireless as we speak.

Even where visitors[not family or patients] may be charged, they will be charged 'only' for the time actually parked.

This is in line with Parky's typically incisive and thorough piece[Wed 20/8]:

'Barnet Hospital install parking system designed to fail'

-in which he writes' It is of course possible to install a system which is much fairer to motorists and easy to use. At Bristol Eye Hospital for instance, the ANPR system installed by Total Parking Solutions tells drivers exactly how much to pay, and does not allow wrong number plates to be entered. A freedom of information request revealed that the amount charged for overstays in a three month period was £0 - or around £250,000 less than ParkingEye were charging Northumbria NHS patients.

However, if ParkingEye were to install a fair system that told motorists how much to pay and did not allow incorrect number plate entries they would quickly go bankrupt because they would not make any revenue, if Bristol Eye Hospital is anything to go by.'

With any luck[certain scumpanies will certainly fail to update,legalise their practices], PP's plan will come into effect nationally.

martmonk

And on bbc news http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28905695
Usual poor research though - 'fines'

ampersand

Yes,
Of course, we are now hearing much more of the wriggle room available, which will certainly be exploited by ppc's doubtless making themselves self-defining arbiters of Emergency, Urgency, Critical, long-term, disability.

I now see last night's press release was a political soundbite but it's a start.

Half_way

While the F word may be used a little too much it appears to be the preferred word that the press and media use.
If a media or press outlet decides to go down that route of using the F word its probably because its far more emotive than calling it a parking charge.
Calling it an unlawful fine, or unlawful penalty would be even better ( depending on the outcome of the beavis/PE case)

Nodding_Donkey

I keep hearing "hospitals told to drop charges for patients and visitors" on the TV news but told by whom?

Ahh just seen a more detailed report, they are 'guidelines' so just a bit of soundbite politicking then

The_Deep

Ah. the "F" word.

So many people on here get their undergarments knotted yet are themselves unable to differentiate between "their" and "there", "whose" and "who's", and "its" and "it's".

ampersand

....starring Rachel Ledson as Dr Johnson.

Half_way

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

I keep hearing "hospitals told to drop charges for patients and visitors" on the TV news but told by whom?

Ahh just seen a more detailed report, they are 'guidelines' so just a bit of soundbite politicking then

Election coming up by any chance?
expect plenty more soundbites, and little else in the coming months.

As for the parking in hospitals it looks like its all words and no action, still the papers will claim that its a victory for them in their so called campaign.

Dee140157

We all know that guidelines are simply that. They carry little weight for many hospitals in all areas it seems, so what will this actually change?

The_Deep

Dee140157 wrote: »

We all know that guidelines are simply that. They carry little weight for many hospitals in all areas it seems, so what will this actually change?

Never underestimate the power of the media. This is going out hourly on 24 hour news. People will now have an expectation that they will not be ripped off in hospital car parks. When they are they will start asking questions, writing letters, googling fora, awareness of PPC rip offs will be increased.

bazster

The_Deep wrote: »

Never underestimate the power of the media. This is going out hourly on 24 hour news. People will now have an expectation that they will not be ripped off in hospital car parks. When they are they will start asking questions, writing letters, googling fora, awareness of PPC rip offs will be increased.

True, but an edict rather than guidance would've been better!