ERI parking charges: 'People object to excessive charges at isolated sites'

Published on Monday 12 January 2009 09:12

Evening News Comment JUST days after a deal brokered by the SNP abolished parking charges at 14 Scottish hospitals, a proposal was launched today with a view to having legislation passed to prevent charges being levied at any NHS site.

If successful, the move by Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Martin would in theory lead to free parking at three hospitals where car parks are run under PFI contracts – Edinburgh and Glasgow Royal Infirmaries and Ninewells in Dundee. But even if Mr Martin receives the cross-party support he requires to steer his Member's Bill through parliament there may be some scepticism over whether it can be enforced, bearing in mind that charges at the three hospitals concerned are outwith the control of local NHS authorities.

And it is a distinct possibility that such a law could face a legal challenge from any of the operators who have binding agreements with the health authorities concerned.

Under the PFI agreement that led to the ERI being built, parking was contracted out to hospital operator Consort for 25 years – an agreement which has come under fire over charges of up to 7 a day. Similar charges, more expensive than parking at an airport NCP for 12 hours, are levied at Glasgow and Dundee.

The Government would like to see all charges scrapped but has estimated that costs of buying out the contracts would run to tens of millions of pounds. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has in the past indicated a maximum rate of 3 per day was acceptable but in the case of the ERI, NHS Lothian is powerless to demand this although it has been negotiating for some time with Consort after heavy criticism and calls from patients, relatives and staff to have charges reduced.

Up until the beginning of the year the health authority charged a rate at its other hospitals, the Western General and St John's in Livingston, that was sufficient to cover running costs.

Few people mind paying parking charges. They are part of everyday life on the streets, in privately-run car parks and at some shopping malls. What people object to is paying excessive charges particularly at isolated sites like the ERI where public transport links are poor and parking alternatives distant.

Staff apart, no-one wants to be at a hospital either as a patient or a visitor and most people would not mind paying a minimal charge if the money was being used for the public good rather than lining a private company's pockets. A blanket ban on all charging simply cuts off one source of revenue that could be used to improve services and make a hospital stay more bearable.

Perhaps the best solution lies in the Government working with health boards to reduce charges to acceptable levels.