Scrap this unfair levy

THE NHS prides itself on being free to all regardless of wealth or circumstance.

This holds true apart from one glaring exception: Hospital car parking.

NHS staff, the sick and visitors pay an outrageous £620,000 a day in charges.

Health chiefs have tried to justify this tax by claiming the money is essential extra revenue. The figures tell a different story.

Just 15% of the £226million raised from fees each year goes back to the health service with most being syphoned off by private firms.

The case for England following Scotland and Wales and scrapping this insensitive and unfair stealth tax has never been stronger.

It is unacceptable that low-paid nurses, support staff and cleaners should have their wages docked in this way.

It is intolerable that those with chronic illnesses such as cancer, which require regular hospital visits, should be left out of pocket.

The sum raised for the NHS from parking is a miniscule amount of the total health budget.

Yet no price can be placed on the goodwill which would come from ending these charges.

It is time to abolish this parking tax.