SNP claim over parking charges ‘offensive’.

Leaflet stated parking fees had been scrapped at all hospitals

SNP bosses have been urged to apologise and withdraw “offensive” claims in an official campaign leaflet that the party has scrapped parking charges “at all NHS-run hospitals”.

Homes across have Scotland received campaign material endorsed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outlining 184 ways the party are “improving everyday life”.

In the leaflet, Ms Sturgeon states the SNP is “proud of our record” but opposition politicians have accused bosses of peddling “blatantly false” information over a claim parking fees have been removed from all NHS hospitals in Scotland.

Number 26 on the list of suggested improvements states: “Parking charges at all NHS-run hospital scrapped – saving patients and staff around £27 million.”

The Scottish Government has discontinued the practice of charging for parking at most publicly-run centres but fees still remain in place at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and the royal infirmaries in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

One resident, who received the SNP leaflet at his Broughty Ferry home, said his first instinct was to “throw it straight in the bin”.

He said: “I was shocked to see it written there so blatantly. There has been a lot of talk about the charges at Ninewells.

“To see them claiming they have abolished all charges is just wrong and actually quite offensive.”

Dundee-based MSP Jenny Marra launched a private member’s bill last year in a bid to have the “unfair” parking charges removed.

She said: “For the past 12 years we have continued to pay for parking at Ninewells hospital and they have never shown any willingness to sort that out. Any claims to the contrary are simply untrue and should be withdrawn.”

An SNP spokesman said: “Unfortunately, thanks to the obsession of previous administrations with shortsighted and poor-value PFI contracts, Ninewells was locked into a 30-year deal which sees patients and staff continue to pay parking charges.

“That’s just one of the reasons the SNP abolished the use of bad-value PFI deals.”

“I was shocked to see it written there so blatantly.

RESIDENT

MSP Jenny Marra, left, at Holyrood. The leaflet and the claim, right, that has come under fire.