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The Patients Association welcomes the Bill introduced by Julie Cooper MP to remove charges for carers using hospital car parks.

Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association said:

“We welcome the Bill introduced by Julie Cooper MP to remove charges for carers using hospital car parks. We regularly hear from patients about this issue on our National Helpline. The exorbitant fees that are often charged by hospitals for car parking can cause a great amount of distress to patients and their families, who very often cannot afford to pay such prices. 

While we welcome this attempt to remove charges for carers, the reality is charging for parking in hospitals is a tax on the sick. Whilst we acknowledge that hospitals have to generate revenue, this should not be done at the expense of patients. The Patients Association hopes that this Bill will be a step in the right direction and that it should be extended beyond carers to those who are regularly using hospital parking facilities. 

It is also vital that if this Bill becomes legislation that information on how to apply for and access this free parking for carers is made readily available so that the appropriate people can make use of these changes.”

Notes for Editors

The Patients Association is an independent national health and social care charity established over 52 years ago, and has a long history of campaigning to ensure that the voice of patients is heard within the Health and Social care system. 

For further information please contact the Patients Association on 020 8423 9111 alternatively you can call 07779 004898.

You can also visit us on our website at www.patients-association.org.uk 

You can also view our All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Patient Safety at http://www.patientsassociation.org.uk/policy-campaigns/all-party-parliamentary-group-patient-safety/