Calls for £7.20 parking charges at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to be scrapped during coronavirus crisis

NHS workers are being asked to avoid public transport, but charges to park are still in place

Parking charges at the Royal Infirmary are still in place

Frontline NHS workers tackling the brunt of the coronavirus outbreak are still facing charges of more than £7 to park at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Calls from MSPs including the Conservative’s shadow health secretary and Lothian MSP Miles Briggs have been made to scrap the charges.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions today, Nicola Sturgeon said the health secretary Jeane Freeman was looking “urgently” into the charges, with a view to cover the cost or for the charges to be suspended.

Responding to a question from Mr Briggs, Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government is looking at doing what they can to take away the cost from NHS workers.

She said: “I sympathise with that, we have removed parking charges some time ago for all NHS car parks and we have PFI hospitals where that doesn’t apply. The Health Secretary is looking urgently at how we can get rid of parking charges during this period from these hospitals.

“Hopefully we can talk to the companies to ask them to suspend them but if not then the Scottish Government will want to look at we can do to take away that cost from those who will be working so hard to keep the rest of us safe in the weeks and months to come.”

Mr Briggs said: “NHS staff shouldn’t have to pay to park at work at the best of times.

“But given this crisis, their brave and fundamental role in fighting it, and the advice given in relation to public transport, the message has to be clear. All those working at the three hospitals where charges still apply should be able to park there for free.

“Given the sacrifice they are making on behalf of all of us, that’s the very least they deserve. It’s vital we see urgent action now and I’m pleased the First Minister has agreed to take this forward.”

Car parking at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is controlled by a private company meaning charges remain in place despite the scrapping of hospital car park charges in Scotland in 2008.

Other hospitals with similar arrangements includes Ninewells in Dundee (£2.40 per day) and the Glasgow Royal Infirmary (£1.70 per day).