WIREDGOV

Fairer NHS car parking charges

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 29 December 2009

A consultation to provide fairer hospital car parking to patients was launched today by the Department of Health.

The consultation outlines a range of options, including:

giving all inpatients free hospital car parking for their visitors, or only after a long stay; andgiving access to free parking for outpatients who need to attend a series of appointments, or placing a cap on charges for priority outpatient groups who attend regular hospital appointments.

Each inpatient would receive a permit for the length of their stay, which family and friends can use. Options looking at providing better subsidised charges for priority outpatient groups, such as cancer patients and those attending multiple outpatient appointments, would also be phased in over the next three years, as efficiency savings from back-office costs and reducing bureaucracy allow. These savings will be reinvested back into the NHS where it matters most — for the benefit of patients and their families.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said:

"I want to see a fairer and more consistent approach to parking across the NHS, which recognises the pressure that patients and their families come under. People in hospital are often at a low point in their lives - emotionally and financially - and high parking charges can add to stress or limit visits from family and friends. I have said I want a more people-centred NHS and that means giving more attention to these issues to get them right.

“At the moment charging practice varies greatly and the public have no clear sense of the principles beneath it. In particular, I want an approach that helps the sickest people that have to spend the most time in hospital.

“I am launching this consultation to develop a clear set of principles which balance fairness with the financial pressures that hospitals will be under in the coming period. I want to hear peoples views on how we get this balance right, both from patients and from staff working in the NHS."

The eight week consultation will close on 23 February 2010 and views on the proposals are welcome from the public, patients, the NHS and stakeholders.

Notes to Editors

On 30 September, Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced that car parking charges for all inpatients would be scrapped over a three year period.

The consultation on making car parking access fairer for patients can be found at:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_110557

For more information please contact the Department of Health press office on 020 7210 5221.

Contacts:

Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk