End rip-off NHS parking fees now
Your campaign to abolish parking charges at hospitals has my total support and sincere thanks. At my local hospital in Stevenage, they are exorbitant. I regularly attend cardiology and rheumatology clinics and, despite being a Blue Badge holder, I’m charged every time.
Clinics can, and do, frequently run late, which is not the fault of the staff, it’s just the nature of the beast, and some parking machines don’t accept notes or cards.
I fully appreciate that many NHS Trusts are under huge financial pressure, but making the sick, the disabled and, perhaps most importantly, nurses and other hospital staff, pay to work is the wrong way of running a hospital. Harry Wright, Letchworth, Herts
#Once again it is good to see the Daily Mirror highlighting the disgraceful rip-off charges for hospital parking. I noticed at the end of your report that a spokesperson for the Department of Health said individual trusts were responsible for the parking. That’s a Government cop out. It is their huge cuts to NHS funding which means the trusts have to derive income from wherever they can. The Tories could, if they wanted to, fund the NHS properly and then there would be no need for rip-off parking charges. They are firmly to blame. We will not be fooled. Mick Streets Chesterfield, Derbys
#I agree with your campaign to abolish hospital parking charges. My wife was in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for 10 weeks last year and, as we live on the west coast, I couldn’t travel daily but the severity of her illness meant she wanted me there all the time. If I had parked at the hospital every day it would have cost me £490. I also think it is appalling that NHS staff have to pay to park at work. Les Gibbs, Prestwick, Ayrshire
#Hospital car parking has been in the news long enough, so it is good to see the Mirror taking the lead once again.
The Government hides behind the statement that hospital trusts are responsible for all car park charges, but we all know that governments can change these rules if they wish.
It would be interesting to know how much MPs pay for their parking. Well done on your campaign. George Briers, Fakenham, Norfolk
#Most hospital car parks are large enough to accommodate the vehicles of staff, patients and visitors for whom there should be no charge. That said, hospitals near to town centres need a system in place to prevent shoppers and local workers using these car parks. For hospitals away from town centres, their car parks will be of little use to anyone else, in which case parking fees should be scrapped forthwith. Stuart Magrath, Wigan, Lancs
#The NHS and this country will never be safe with the Tories. Unfortunately, many are now ruing the day they voted for them, with more cuts in funding and ridiculous hospital parking charges. I urge everyone to get behind Jeremy Corbyn and voice their anger. This country needs him in charge now. Reg Barrett Southminster, Essex