All hospital car park fees axed with new deals

HOSPITAL parking charges are to end permanently, the Scottish Government said yesterday.

Agreements have been reached to take over car parks at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, which are currently operated through private finance initiative (PFI) schemes.

Talks are also progressing to take over Scotland’s last PFI car park, at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Parking charges have been suspended at the three PFI facilities since the start of the pandemic. The agreements to take the car parks into public hands mean this becomes permanent.

Parking fees at the rest of Scotland’s hospitals were scrapped in 2008.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: ‘I am delighted to announce that these facilities will come into public hands and help phase out the legacy of PFI in hospital car parks in Scotland.’

The Government has given funding for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to buy out the contract at Glasgow Royal Infirmary for £26.3million and for NHS Tayside to buy out the Ninewells contract for £9million.

Scottish Conservative health spokeswoman Annie Wells welcomed the move and said it is crucial charges are dropped at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary urgently.