‘Cut hospital parking charges for long term patients’ – Lombard

HOSPITAL car parking charges should be lessened for long term patients and a national review of of car parking charges needs to be reviewed.

That was the view of Cork senator Tim Lombard (FG) who said that it is “only right that patients who are constantly using car parking facilities at hospitals are treated fairly.”

Public hospitals have collected almost €13 million in a year in parking charges, with maximum charges for a full day of parking ranging from €3 to €15.

There are currently no national guidelines governing charges for parking at Irish hospitals and the Irish Cancer Society has been calling on them to waive parking fees for people undergoing cancer treatment.

“It is hard enough for any patient attending a hospital to go through their own health difficulties or procedures. I don’t think there is anyone in my constituency that does not have a family member or know someone who is regularly receiving treatment. Should they need to visit hospitals regularly, it should be in as reasonable a manner as possible. Patients suffer enough distress without anything else adding to their worries,” he said.

Senator Lombard also said this is the first time that the car parking hospital issue has been tackled and he fully supports the Health Minister in his efforts on this costly subject. Minister Harris has asked the HSE to carry out a review of parking with the aim of establishing clear national guidelines.

This review will examine existing arrangements within hospitals, the financial impact of parking charges on patients and families, the data in relation to the income generated from these charges, and any other factors.