On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 23:48:36 -0000, "HLAH"
wrote:


Hospital parking charges are a disgrace. At our local hospital you are only
allowed a full refund for repeat visits if your relative is a terminal
patient.


Travelling around hospitals for work it has come to my notice that
there have been big increases in parking charges over the last year,
usually accompanied by new ticket machines and exit barrier systems.

Typically it might have gone up from a flat fee of £1.00 per stay to
£2.50 for up to 4 hours. A 500% increase.

Not that much, you might say but it equates to £35.00 per week if you
are visiting a seriously ill relative.

When our twins were in the neo-natal unit we could get a charge capped at £2
a day if we had a chit signed and stamped by a medical staff member, nice
having to harass a tired medic for the stamp and nice when we were often
stressed too and then having to get the usually really miserable, and often
absent, security staff to validate it just so we could go home.

£2 a day isn't a lot to see your babies but at £84 for 6 weeks it was a
charge we resented, particularly as the money doesn't go into the coffers of
the Health Trust to help patient care but goes straight into the pockets of
the crony private finance initiative consortium. Why aren't these pfi
investments opened up to local small investors, I would put money in, high
return for apparently zero risk seems better than I can get else where - and
surely Us local patients would be happier about the money flows?


Hmmm, in Leeds they have opened a new hospital car park at £12.00/day.
It only has a few places for public use.

Staff such as nurses have to pay (less) for a space, but it is only
available whilst they are on shift, if they take too long to move
their car at the end of their shift they are "Fined" an amount of
about one day's pay.

It's money for old rope.

:-(

DG