Scrap car parking charges at NHS Hospitals in England

Parking at our local hospital is a nonsense. Blood tests - can be waiting 10 mins or a couple of hours; pre-op appointments a couple of hours or the best part of a day; ordinary consultations - well, we've all been there, half an hour or 3!

The problem is, in that car park you have to pre-pay. If the appointment takes longer than the minimum 2 hours that can be bought, they slap a ticket on the windscreen; if the appointment takes less than the 2 hours, well it's money for old rope.

They now charge Blue Badge holders for parking too - this is after (and I quote) "...having held discussions and consultation meetings with representatives and interested parties last year, it was felt that we should treat all visitors to the site in an even handed way."

My partner was picking up drugs for an elderly patient with dementia (she is a community psychiatric nurse cpn) and was given a parking ticket in Lewisham hospital.

They are threatening legal action - is there any case for appeal?

It is about time that the huge charges for patients, visitors and staff made by Private Companies in hospital car parks is abolished.
Last week we took our granddaughter back to East Surrey Hospital (no shops within walking distance and a bus ride from the nearest town) in Redhill to return to her baby who was in the Intensive Care Unit. We took her up to the Ward and the duration of our visit was around 20 - 25 minutes. We had to pay £3.00 for up to 3 hours which I believe is extortionate! If they must charge then have an option of half an hour free or up to an hour band.
These costs are unavoidable at most hospitals as there is usually nowhere else to park and worried people visiting very sick relatives are a 'captive audience'. A disgusting situation, preying on the distressed, the elderly, the vulnerable and even the staff who also are required to pay! Let's mount a nationwide revolt!!