Get rid of hospital parking charges

HAVING read about the parking charge increases at NHS hospitals, I felt it appropriate to share my recent experience with the RUH in Bath.

I am a GP locum, having recently retired from a practice in Trowbridge, where I worked for 27 years. I decided to do some outof-hours work to help out the NHS with its winter pressures and, in preparation, arranged to shadow an experienced out-of-hours colleague.

I parked by the Princess Anne wing at 11pm – of course, it was dark and there are no barriers there now. I left just after 2am and did not realise parking charges were still in force. I was therefore issued a parking fine by Parking Eye, which I believe oversees the car parks for the RUH.

I appealed the fine, having detailed the circumstances, but the appeal was rejected by Parking Eye.

I am in complete agreement that parking charges for hospital visits (and staff!) should be scrapped, or at the very least substantially reduced, to cover the maintenance of the car parks only.

I don’t buy the explanation that it funds extra nurses and I would like to know who oversees Parking Eye?

A starling drying off after its bath, byRosemary Martin, of Sparkford, SouthSomerset

Lacock Abbey in the mist, by Elizabeth Oakley, of Dursley