U-turn over car parking charges at George Eliot hospital

A U-TURN has been made on some controversial parking charges at Nuneaton’s hospital.

Following an outcry from both the public and the Patients Forum, chiefs at the George Eliot Hospital are due to make changes to how much patients and visitors have to pay.

After axing the free 30 minutes to 15 minutes, the hospital is proposing a U-turn - and reverting back to free 30 minutes.

The charge for up to an hour is also changing, being reduced from £2.60 to £2.50.

But it is not all good news as new bands being introduced.

Instead of having prices for two to four hours, and four to six, hospital bosses are proposing prices for up to two hours, three hours, four hours, five hours and six hours.

The charge for up to 24 hours is also to rise from £9.40 to £12.

David Eltringham George Eliot Hospital’s managing director, said: “We have listened to the concerns of our patient forum and taken them on board with our revised arrangements for our Trust Board to consider.

“Car parking is always a difficult issue to tackle and we welcome the are involvement of the forum in helping us to arrive at a fair proposal.”

There was anger among the public when the Eliot not only increased how much people have to pay but also cut the free 30 minute period to just 15.

At the time, the Patient Forum complained they were ‘absolutely disgraceful’ and said their alternative proposals had been ignored.

These proposals included bringing back the free 30 minutes.

Members of the hospital’s trust board are due to meet to discuss the proposed changes.

They will make the final decision on whether or not they go ahead.