Hospital Parking Fees Should We Pay?

I think it should be free to park when visiting a hospital. I recently had to park at my nearest hospital everyday for 3 months and I wouldn't have been able to afford the parking charge everyday as well as the fuel to get there.

I have also had to park several times in an emergency with no time to look for change, go to the parking meter etc, so would probably have received a ticket on these times.

Having said that, they did used to charge and it was always hard to find a parking space, now it is free it is almost impossible to find a parking space as a lot of people are apparently using the car park to leave their cars there all day whilst they car share to work.

After missing an appointment once because of being unable to park there I now have to arrive an hour early for appointments just to try and find a parking space in time.

I personally think if the charges arnt going to the hospital or being used to maintain the car parks and surrounding areas then the parking should be free.

I definitely think hospital parking should be free, cheaper or all the money goes to the NHS / hospital. Here in Scotland, our nearest hospital does not charge for parking - I’m not sure whether that is the case across Scotland, but I know where I am from down south, the parking can cost you more than it would in a city centre multi story carpark

Our local hopsitals removed parking charges a few years ago. I did think that the money went to the hospital though.

The hospital near by has not enough parking place. I think they should not charge fees to park there. No one goes there for enjoyment. Have to go there.

If hospital car parking charges were abolished, NHS trusts would be forced to find almost £200m of funding from elsewhere either from within already scarce NHS sources or through an increase in the NHS budget

Not all NHS trusts own their own car parks, and need to pass on some costs in order to run and maintain the car parks. The revenue generated is mainly used to maintain these facilities, with any surpluses reinvested in care for patients.

NHS trusts are often located close to town centres, so there's a massive risk that people not actually using health services would use the parking spaces if parking charges were abolished.

I live in Wales and parking charges at Hospitals have already been scrapped, which is as it should be everywhere, People visiting these places are doing it usually out of necessity, and the staff working in these hospitals in my view deserve free parking also

There is an issue in certain Hospitals that I know of , thou where people are parking and taking up valuable spaces yet going into town or to work and avoiding paying in car parks closer to the centres, not sure how this can be avoided thou

charging staff that are already underpaid and trying to help people in often a thankless job in my opinion is heartbreaking- think staff deserve free permits to display. wondering if patients.visitors can get issued a similar day stay pass issued via ward clerk which would help stop people taking advantage and trying to park for free when shopping etc

I absolutely agree with it when it goes towards maintaining the hospital or towards parking facilities but Im so happy with the idea it's going to contractors although I understand many hospital probably can't afford the space without them.

It is a simple on for me. No is the answer. Parking is needed for anyone interacting with the hospital, be that as a customer or visitor. A far too stressful aspect of hospital care that should not be an issue.

If they don't charge it might become impossible for people who genuinely need to park to find a place. It might help if those who because of infirmity need to park were either given very reduced rates or free passes, but far too many who could use public transport fail to do so - denying a place near the hospital to those who really need one..

I know it will be different in different parts of the country but most hospitals in big towns and cities usually have a good public transport service - and limited parking space.

paying to park your car in a hospital car park is extortion. You don’t pay to park your car in the supermarket car park so why would you be expected to pay in a hospital car park?

could not of summed up what is wrong with the economy more succinctly if I tried, the NHS is still a service we pay for indirectly after all - and I am very grateful for it but the parking is criminal

It's not just patients and visitors that are being ripped off. Three in ten hospitals also charge staff to park - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/09/hospital-staff-paying-80-week-car-parking-charges/ It should be free, but hospitals are not getting enough funding, so are having to resort to things like this

I wish hospital parking could be free. No one wants to spend hours waiting to be seen. I overheard at the hospital last Wednesday, the person was quite loud, that their last appointment was 9.30am but they didn’t leave until 6.45pm !