Support Nurses....

Herzlos

I signed. I don't think any hospital staff, patients of visitors should have to pay to park at a hospital.

Thankfully, our NHS is civilized and parking is free (with a separate staff area). Parking can be a bit hectic at times because the car park is half the size it needs to be, which wouldn't be fixed by charging, but you guys need some help

I was pretty sickened to hear whatever politician that ran out the time over this said that giving some people free parking would hurt the "hospitals revenue stream and drive up prices for others". It's a bleeping hospital, not a shop.

I'd compromise by just banning PPC's from enforcement and use council wardens or pay-on-exit systems, or even have clear signage. But healthcare is a basic human right and they shouldn't be robbed or harassed for having to make use of it.

Guest101

Herzlos wrote: »

I signed. I don't think any hospital staff, patients of visitors should have to pay to park at a hospital. - The problem is (at some hospitals at least) people who aren't using the hospital taking up spaces. A pay on exit scheme is definitely the most effective (and the one we use locally)

Thankfully, our NHS is civilized and parking is free (with a separate staff area). Parking can be a bit hectic at times because the car park is half the size it needs to be, which wouldn't be fixed by charging, but you guys need some help - That depends on who's using the site. If commuters park there before going off to work than clearly the land isn't used as intended.

I was pretty sickened to hear whatever politician that ran out the time over this said that giving some people free parking would hurt the "hospitals revenue stream and drive up prices for others". It's a bleeping hospital, not a shop. - Hospitals aren't free, just because it's free to use. The NHS is struggling financially, I agree that any additional revenue would be a bonus. You don't 'have' to pay, just don't use the car park.

I'd compromise by just banning PPC's from enforcement and use council wardens (it's private land, and trusts are more likely to cancel the charges than a council) or pay-on-exit systems (agreed) , or even have clear signage. But healthcare is a basic human right and they shouldn't be robbed or harassed for having to make use of it.

You don't have to drive, you don't have to park incorrectly. I think hospitals are one of the few places where parking should be monitored (at least in urban settings) as otherwise it isn't used by the patients, but rather the wider public.

Guest101

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Totally without any evidence and just politics of envy kicking in.

Actually voice of experience, since I work for a trust and work closely with the exec team.


The colleagues who get the most charge notices are consultants (and not just the most per 100 or the most by %, I mean the single highest category - which is also one of the lowest total number employed - is consultants.


No envy at all.

Ivor_Pecheque

The principle, Herzlos, is that health care is free at the point of entry.

Problem is, once the charging is in place, the argument from the bean counters will be "which service should we remove the money from."

Was watching a tv programme a few weeks ago, where 3 health service managers (who, I assume, are well paid under the generous terms and conditions that the health service offer,) were sat around deciding who should, and who should not, be "let off" their parking charge. Perhaps, this is where I'd direct the big brush first.

Of course, the real rot is the ppc involvement.

Herzlos

Guest101 wrote: »

You don't have to drive, you don't have to park incorrectly. I think hospitals are one of the few places where parking should be monitored (at least in urban settings) as otherwise it isn't used by the patients, but rather the wider public.

Some people do have to drive there though; public transport is fine and well until you're in a rush, or have had a messy injury. Do you want someone with a broken limb waiting 50 minutes for a slow bus to the hospital instead of having a friend drive them and using the car park?

You can also park incorrectly in a considerate way (there's a lot of parking on verges at our local hospital - no-one is obstructed, there just isn't enough spaces), but with the PPC model they'd get ridiculous invoices.

I'm also not sure there's much of an issue with people parking at the hospital for free and leaving the site - but then our hospitals tend to be in rural areas. Come to think of it; our city centre one has a pay-on-exit multi-story next to it, but I think there's a small free one as well, just the pay-on-exit is easier.

Like I said, hospital parking is (generally) completely free and unregulated up here, and we don't see any chaos, just like our supermarket car parks haven't descended into anarchy. You guys are getting shafted rotten over the poor solution to an imaginary problem.

I do think the NHS should be free at the point of use, but that also includes access - what point is a free hospital if you can't afford to get to the door?


I wonder how much money the NHS wastes on PPC management and cancellations Vs what they gain by having the parasites on site?

I'd also agree that there are better ways to save money by cutting out the senior staff busywork. Things like payphones and pay-for-use tv sets seem fair as well - neither of them is a requirement of free hospital treatment, but getting into the hospital is.

System

I do think the NHS should be free at the point of use, but that also includes access - what point is a free hospital if you can't afford to get to the door?

Are you advocating free transport from your house as well?

Guest101

Ivor_Pecheque wrote: »

The principle, Herzlos, is that health care is free at the point of entry.

Problem is, once the charging is in place, the argument from the bean counters will be "which service should we remove the money from."

Was watching a tv programme a few weeks ago, where 3 health service managers (who, I assume, are well paid under the generous terms and conditions that the health service offer,) were sat around deciding who should, and who should not, be "let off" their parking charge. Perhaps, this is where I'd direct the big brush first.

Of course, the real rot is the ppc involvement.

I imagine that's not their sole role.


However it does highlight my earlier point, much easier to get a PCN cancelled by the hospital than the Council

Herzlos

!!!!!! wrote: »

Are you advocating free transport from your house as well?

No, I don't think it's practical for that to work*; but I don't think they should have to be paying an hourly rate to be *at* the hospital, when they've got no choice about being there and no control over how long it'll take.

*I'd have no objection to people who genuinely can't afford it being given free transport to a hospital, which I believe is already done with patient transports and taxis, but I don't think it's necessary for everyone else to get free transport.

Like I said, hospital parking is free in Scotland (apart from 3 PFI hospitals where the contracts won't allow it... don't get me started on PFI) and whilst there has been the occasional issue, there hasn't been the widespread chaos the BPA are claiming will happen.

Guest101

Herzlos wrote: »

Some people do have to drive there though; public transport is fine and well until you're in a rush, or have had a messy injury. Do you want someone with a broken limb waiting 50 minutes for a slow bus to the hospital instead of having a friend drive them and using the car park? - If a friend drove them, the friend would of course be able to then find alternative parking. Similarly though, if the car parks are free (in urban settings) this would mean people might park there whilst they do their shopping (and yes this is a real problem). At least this form of managing the car park (pay on exit) mitigates the chances of that happening.

You can also park incorrectly in a considerate way (there's a lot of parking on verges at our local hospital - no-one is obstructed, there just isn't enough spaces), but with the PPC model they'd get ridiculous invoices. - Which is fine. And I'm not advocating a PPC model, I'm disputing free parking on hospital sites.

I'm also not sure there's much of an issue with people parking at the hospital for free and leaving the site - but then our hospitals tend to be in rural areas. - From experience as both a staff member and service user, the problem was terrible at the local trust, until a pay on exit system was introduced. This is partly because staff were parking in patient car park (and cant claim back those costs) and partly people parking to go into town. Come to think of it; our city centre one has a pay-on-exit multi-story next to it, but I think there's a small free one as well, just the pay-on-exit is easier.

Like I said, hospital parking is (generally) completely free and unregulated up here, and we don't see any chaos, just like our supermarket car parks haven't descended into anarchy. You guys are getting shafted rotten over the poor solution to an imaginary problem. - Perhaps in some areas, but I work in engagement and well over half of complaints at least in some respect involved parking at the site.

I do think the NHS should be free at the point of use, but that also includes access - what point is a free hospital if you can't afford to get to the door? - So all transport to the hospital should be free? If you can afford to run a car, I don't think a couple of pounds for your health is too much.

I wonder how much money the NHS wastes on PPC management and cancellations Vs what they gain by having the parasites on site? - I agree that the system should be in-house

I'd also agree that there are better ways to save money by cutting out the senior staff busywork. Things like payphones and pay-for-use tv sets seem fair as well - neither of them is a requirement of free hospital treatment, but getting into the hospital is.

Those services are provided by a private company

Ivor_Pecheque

I imagine that's not their sole role.

I'm sure it's not, but I'd rather use the money on something which improves patients health.