Hospital car parking charges will be axed
Scottish Government provides funds to put end to high fees
HOSPITAL car parking charges are to end in Scotland after buy-out deals in Glasgow and Dundee were struck.
An agreement is also close which will lead to the end of charges at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “These facilities will come into public hands and help phase out the legacy of PFI in hospital car parks in Scotland.”
Patients and staff have been hit with rip-off parking fees as part of legacy PFI deals by previous governments.
The SNP Government has provided NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with £26.3million to complete the buy-out of the car park contract at the city’s Royal Infirmary. A similar arrangement, worth £9million, has been reached for NHS Tayside and Ninewells hospital in Dundee.
Yousaf said: “There are no car parking changes in place at any hospitals after this Scottish Government secured an arrangement to suspend these at the three PFI sites at the start of the pandemic. This announcement shows we are determined to ensure they will not return at any PFI site in Scotland.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde director of facilities and estates Tom Steele said: “I am really pleased this work has now concluded and we are able to offer free parking to all staff working at each of our hospitals as well as patients who will be attending to receive treatment and their loved ones who visit them.”
NHS Tayside director of facilities John Paterson said: “Today’s announcement is welcome news for everyone.”
NHS Lothian deputy chief executive Jim Crombie said: “We look forward to the completion of negotiations with our PFI provider to end parking charges on our sites permanently.”