Welsh Labour announces free hospital parking
Patients, staff and visitors will be able to park for free at almost every NHS hospital in Wales by the end of 2011, Health Minister Edwina Hart announced today.
Wales is the first UK country to make such reforms.
Nearly £5.4million was collected by NHS Trusts in Wales from hospital parking charges in 2006/07.
Free parking will apply from 1 April this year at all NHS hospitals, except where Trusts have external contracts in place.
However, Trusts with external contracts will have to reduce parking fees, as they will be required to propose and fund schemes to reduce costs until contracts expire or are ended. Their proposals will be approved by the Health Minister and be implemented by 1 June this year.
The move means that by the end of the current Assembly term in 2011, only four hospital sites out of a total of 130 will be due to still have parking charges in place – but even these will be at a reduced rate.
Edwina Hart said:
“Today’s announcement means a fairer and more consistent car parking policy for hospitals across Wales.
“Car parking charges fall heavily on people frequently attending NHS hospitals, whether they are patients, staff or visitors. They are at best an inconvenience and at worst an unfair expense.
“Over time, all NHS patients, visitors and those who care for them will not have the expense or inconvenience of charges. By the end of the current Assembly term, the vast majority of NHS sites will have free parking for all.”
Wales is the first UK country to make such reforms.
Nearly £5.4million was collected by NHS Trusts in Wales from hospital parking charges in 2006/07.
Free parking will apply from 1 April this year at all NHS hospitals, except where Trusts have external contracts in place.
However, Trusts with external contracts will have to reduce parking fees, as they will be required to propose and fund schemes to reduce costs until contracts expire or are ended. Their proposals will be approved by the Health Minister and be implemented by 1 June this year.
The move means that by the end of the current Assembly term in 2011, only four hospital sites out of a total of 130 will be due to still have parking charges in place – but even these will be at a reduced rate.
Edwina Hart said:
“Today’s announcement means a fairer and more consistent car parking policy for hospitals across Wales.
“Car parking charges fall heavily on people frequently attending NHS hospitals, whether they are patients, staff or visitors. They are at best an inconvenience and at worst an unfair expense.
“Over time, all NHS patients, visitors and those who care for them will not have the expense or inconvenience of charges. By the end of the current Assembly term, the vast majority of NHS sites will have free parking for all.”