Cash-strapped hospitals levy parking fees on the disabled

RISING numbers of NHS hospitals are charging disabled patients and visitors for parking, official figures show.

Statistics reveal that 139 hospital sites charge, despite the Health Secretary describing them as a “stealth tax on the vulnerable”. Labour said the situation was “a disgrace” with patients paying the price of a health service in crisis.

Figures from NHS Digital for 2016-17 show average parking costs were £3.20 an hour, with 139 hospitals charging disabled patients and visitors. In 2014, Jeremy Hunt told hospitals to reform the charges and give concessions to the disabled, urging the public to hold the NHS to account for any poor practice.

But Justin Madders, shadow health minister, said: “Jeremy Hunt has done nothing to tackle parking charges for disabled people, despite acknowledging himself that they are unfair. Disabled people often have no choice but to drive to hospital, and it’s wrong to target them with parking fees.

“The truth is hospitals are being forced to introduce or increase parking charges because they are desperately short of cash. This Government has caused a financial crisis in the NHS, and the disabled are paying the price.”

Last year inquiries revealed a third of hospital trusts in England had increased their charges, some as much as £4 for one hour. A Department of Health spokesman said: “NHS organisations are locally responsible for the methods used to charge, and we want to see them coming up with flexible options that put patients and their families first.”

139 Number of hospital sites now charging disabled people for parking despite criticism from the Health Secretary