Hospital Parking

[SocketRocket]

With all the problems Hospitals are experiencing at the moment this may seem a small issue but for me its so annoying.

My wife was admitted to Hospital last week for an operation and I have needed to visit her each day, sometimes twice. Now I am happy to pay a reasonable parking fee but I don't see why it should be similar or even more than many town centre charges.

These were the charges at this Hospital:

Up to one hour: £2.50
1-2 hours: £3.70
2-4 hours: £4.50
4-6 hours: £6.00
6-24 hours: £7.50

What do you think?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

With all the problems Hospitals are experiencing at the moment this may seem a small issue but for me its so annoying.

My wife was admitted to Hospital last week for an operation and I have needed to visit her each day, sometimes twice. Now I am happy to pay a reasonable parking fee but I don't see why it should be similar or even more than many town centre charges.

These were the charges at this Hospital:

Up to one hour: £2.50
1-2 hours: £3.70
2-4 hours: £4.50
4-6 hours: £6.00
6-24 hours: £7.50

What do you think?

Prices are awful, have you spoken to the ward your wife is on, some hospitals do cheaper parking permits when someone is admitted for a period of time.
Hope she gets well soon

 

[Hobbit]

Prices are awful, have you spoken to the ward your wife is on, some hospitals do cheaper parking permits when someone is admitted for a period of time.
Hope she gets well soon

Wot he said.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

One of the disgraces of our time. Putting financial pressure on emotionally vulnerable people. I have relatives in this situation now and it is costing them money they don't really have. There should be ways of resolving this without spaces being taken by non visitors looking for cheap parking.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I understand your frustration, especially if your wife or any loved one is going to be in for a long period of time. However as someone who works at a trust suffering a budget deficit, the revenue raised is crucially important. I know when I was seriously ill in 2006 and my wife was visiting every day for three and a half weeks how expensive it was. I hope she gets well soon

 

[c1973]

With all the problems Hospitals are experiencing at the moment this may seem a small issue but for me its so annoying.

My wife was admitted to Hospital last week for an operation and I have needed to visit her each day, sometimes twice. Now I am happy to pay a reasonable parking fee but I don't see why it should be similar or even more than many town centre charges.

These were the charges at this Hospital:

Up to one hour: £2.50
1-2 hours: £3.70
2-4 hours: £4.50
4-6 hours: £6.00
6-24 hours: £7.50

What do you think?

Disgraceful.

Pity those on a tight budget who have to visit loved ones.

 

[Rumpokid]

With all the problems Hospitals are experiencing at the moment this may seem a small issue but for me its so annoying.

My wife was admitted to Hospital last week for an operation and I have needed to visit her each day, sometimes twice. Now I am happy to pay a reasonable parking fee but I don't see why it should be similar or even more than many town centre charges.

These were the charges at this Hospital:

Up to one hour: £2.50
1-2 hours: £3.70
2-4 hours: £4.50
4-6 hours: £6.00
6-24 hours: £7.50

What do you think?

Park at the end of my drive, all the other visitors and employees do...

 

[drdel]

Hope your wife is soon out and well.

A few years ago my wife was in a London Hospital with no parking - she was in for 6 months, visited pretty much daily which involved a 120 round trip and then commercial rate parking - cost me about £4k - an arm and a leg but luckily I could afford it and I had an understanding employer.

I feel very sorry for those on a tight budget as its a worry yet hospitals need the cash.

Unfortunately there's rather too much wasted on spurious management initiatives, exec. pay and target meeting.

 

[SocketRocket]

I understand your frustration, especially if your wife or any loved one is going to be in for a long period of time. However as someone who works at a trust suffering a budget deficit, the revenue raised is crucially important. I know when I was seriously ill in 2006 and my wife was visiting every day for three and a half weeks how expensive it was. I hope she gets well soon

Thanks Homer.

I understand your point about budget deficit and funding but it just seems to me that this method of raising money hits the vulnerable. I don't think many would complain if charged a few pounds per visit, especially if that was a day ticket but I believe many of these car parks are privately managed so much on the revenue does not go to the Hospital.

 

[Hobbit]

I understand your frustration, especially if your wife or any loved one is going to be in for a long period of time. However as someone who works at a trust suffering a budget deficit, the revenue raised is crucially important. I know when I was seriously ill in 2006 and my wife was visiting every day for three and a half weeks how expensive it was. I hope she gets well soon

Personally, I feel if we have to have parking charges they should be to cover the cost of parking mgt. The NHS shouldn't be making a profit even if it is being used elsewhere in the Trust.

 

[Oddsocks]

With all the problems Hospitals are experiencing at the moment this may seem a small issue but for me its so annoying.

My wife was admitted to Hospital last week for an operation and I have needed to visit her each day, sometimes twice. Now I am happy to pay a reasonable parking fee but I don't see why it should be similar or even more than many town centre charges.

These were the charges at this Hospital:

Up to one hour: £2.50
1-2 hours: £3.70
2-4 hours: £4.50
4-6 hours: £6.00
6-24 hours: £7.50

What do you think?

You think that's bad, I was at Kings college before Christmas xmas and my partner was charged £23 for 12 hours parking per day.... What's worse is after 8hrs it onto a rolling hour charge uncapped.

I'm all for fair parking charges but we did close to £60 in parking over 2 days

 

[Imurg]

This is the reason many roads around Stoke Mandeville hospital are rammed full of cars...
SMH have been selling off their land left right and centre. There's barely anywhere for staff to park let alone patients or visitors.
They even sold a load recently for an Asda mini store...........

Hope Mrs Rocket is well soon......

 

[Foxholer]

One of the disgraces of our time. Putting financial pressure on emotionally vulnerable people. I have relatives in this situation now and it is costing them money they don't really have. There should be ways of resolving this without spaces being taken by non visitors looking for cheap parking.

This!!

First hour or so visiting should be free/token, with 'special arrangements' made where necessary.

It's a Hospital, not a Parking business/precinct!

Hope she gets well soon.

 

[wrighty1874]

My wife works in the Pharmacy dept of Warwick hospital and has parking fees taken out of her salary, and no guarantee of a parking space. Scandalous Hope your wife is on the mend.

 

[Hobbit]

Once upon a time parking at all hospitals was free. Then in the early 90's charges were brought it that were supposed to cover the cost of managing this non-clinical drain on resources. Then some Trusts decided it should be a revenue generator, either through 3rd party mgt or direct mgt. And then we had Labour, the great supporter of the NHS (cynical smilie) insisting that the first tranche of 10 PFI hospitals should out source the service... Apologies but after nearly 30yrs of working for and with the NHS I detest some of the politicking that's gone on with the NHS. Under resourced and over stretched, and then kicked around for not achieving what's asked (demanded) of them.

Sorry SR for jumping in. I do hope you you get her home safe and well soon.

 

[CMAC]

With all the problems Hospitals are experiencing at the moment this may seem a small issue but for me its so annoying.

My wife was admitted to Hospital last week for an operation and I have needed to visit her each day, sometimes twice. Now I am happy to pay a reasonable parking fee but I don't see why it should be similar or even more than many town centre charges.

These were the charges at this Hospital:

Up to one hour: £2.50
1-2 hours: £3.70
2-4 hours: £4.50
4-6 hours: £6.00
6-24 hours: £7.50

What do you think?

it should be free, unquestionably!

statements about subsidising their budget is a cop out! the NHS Squander millions. Tighten up the frivolous budget haemorrhaging and all parking can be free again.

 

[guest100718]

is it free in scotland?

 

[c1973]

is it free in scotland?

It is at the hospitals near me, but I couldn't say for definite if it is nationwide, think it may be though.

 

[SocketRocket]

Thanks so much for all the encouraging words. She is home now but it will take around four months for her to recover enough to drive or to walk any distance.

I have found out this week that the Magic Basket in the bedroom does not empty its self, wash, dry, iron and put clothes back in the wardrobe. Food does not make it's way magically from the fridge to the plate and something I have always known, that she is a real treasure and unlike the car parking worth every penny :thup:

 

[ger147]

is it free in scotland?

At some hospitals yes but not all.