Hospitals must end ‘unfair’ parking charges

Hospitals have been asked to offer free or cheap parking to relatives of patients with chronic illnesses.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said new guidelines for England’s hospitals had been created to end the stress of “unfair” charges.

Disabled patients, those with frequent appointments and staff working shifts will also benefit from the changes, Mr Hunt said.

State hospital guidelines should waive fines when an overstay is beyond the driver’s control, such as if treatment takes longer than expected.

Mr Hunt admitted last month he was concerned about parking charges being charged at some hospitals after being pressed by backbenchers to end the “rip-off” costs.

The guidelines establish for the first time that hospital trusts are responsible for the actions of any private companies they use to manage car parks.

It also calls on hospitals to consider introducing pay-on-exit systems so that visitors only pay for the time they used.

Mr Hunt said: “Patients and their families should not have to deal with the added stress of unfair parking charges.

“These clear ground rules set out our expectations and will help the public to hold the NHS to account when there are unfair charges or practices.”

Shadow Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said: “The Conservative-led government abandoned Labour’s plans to phase out parking charges for patients and Jeremy Hunt must take responsibility for the fact that since then , one in four hospitals has increased parking fees.

“Any action to ease the burden of parking charges on patients and their visitors is welcome. When people go to hospital, the last thing they want to worry about is parking charges.”