Parking at the Hospital

[computedshorty]

How often have you had to pay to park in a Hospital Car Park?

As a visitor you expect to park somewhere and pay a reasonable fee.

Here is an example I am often faced with.

Driving to a Hospital having to park in a multi story Car Park with no lift so have to use the stairs or ramp,

Having thought that paying for a ticket, a couple of hours would be enough.

Waiting your turn and then being wired up to various machines, or dressed in a smock for Xrays, a glance at my watch, I have over run the time on my parking ticket that worries me, I can?t get to the Car Park to put more money in the meter.

So I will get a fine.

There is negotiations going on now to give some free spaces for those booked for a treatment, when the fee will be waved.

I won?t hold my breath, as I don't think I will ever benefit from it.

Lets hope it will come into force soon.

[KidKruger]

Yes I agree CS.

I think the system should be that you take a ticket when entering the car park then insert it back into the ticket machine just before you depart and it calculated your parking fee.

But that would mean they make less revenue from fines - which I'm sure is a lucrative revenue stream for the hospital.

Very sad the way hospital car parks are run.

[Mustard]

The Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead used to have a system for their car park whereby you could show your card/letter with your outpatient appt. on it and you were able to park for free. First come, first served.

[sophiesofa]

KidKruger Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yes I agree CS.

> I think the system should be that you take a

> ticket when entering the car park then insert it

> back into the ticket machine just before you

> depart and it calculated your parking fee.

> But that would mean they make less revenue from

> fines - which I'm sure is a lucrative revenue

> stream for the hospital.

> Very sad the way hospital car parks are run.

Southampton General and Milton Keynes hospital have the pay as you leave system so I just assumed most did. Bit crap to fine people for having to stay longer than anticipated!

[computedshorty]

Some hospital parking stories sound outrageous, and charges are indeed a burden on some drivers. But the issue is complex.

The poorest in society and the elderly are most likely to get sick, but the least likely to drive. They are often saddled with long expensive bus journeys to out-of-town hospitals easily accessed by motorists.

Should the NHS provide minicabs for patients or visiting relatives without cars?

Campaigners complain about the cost of NHS staff parking, but many hospitals are on expensive prime land. Car parks take up space that could be used for wards, and free parking would effectively subsidise drivers.

What's more, hospitals like other major employers, are under pressure from councils to reduce driving to cut congestion and pollution.

And how would hospitals replace the lost income from parking charges? It's not simple.

[computedshorty]

There is one consolation having visited at the Hospital for your appointment.

If it is near a meal time, the Restaurant is well worth a visit, normally found on a lower floor at the back.

There is a good selection of dinners or snacks, in a relaxed environment.

My wife normally comes with me, or I with her, so it saves cooking when we get home.

The food is very nice and cheap, usually I have Apple pie and custard, my wife has the full meal, says it makes a change to not have to cook.

This gives you time to recover from your treatment.

Just the place to wait for your pick up.

[Pugwash]

In my line of work I frequently have to go to various hospitals to see patients. If seeing someone in Lewisham Hospital I try to go after 3 pm when most of the OP appointments are finishing. Too expensive to park in the car park but the meters in Lewisham park opposite are not bad a price. St. Helier Hospital is murder, took me nearly an hour to find a parking space and cost me a bomb, Princess Royal at Farnborough - if you are going to be in and out within a couple of hours park in Sainsbury's and make sure you purchase a few items in there. I am off to Orpington Hospital tomorrow morning for the first time so interesting to see what the situation is there.

I'm afraid all hospitals north of the river I go by Public Transport as not worth driving. St. Christopher's Hospice, if late afternoon usually can park in the road opposite for free, but hit and miss all other times as now they have made the general car park smaller - never get a space.

[Sandra Mcderols]

I agree. Hospital parking is disgusting. Let's hope they reduce it for patients and their families.

[Nigello]

I agree with EDShorty's nuanced and mature view and feel, sadly, that those who are able to pay will clamour for free parking whilst the really need ones, who have to come via taxi or public transport, wont' be refunded.

It is not that simple! I think a flat fee of a pound per two hour visit is a reasonable cost. Money doesn't grow on trees, and neither does NHS provision.