Hospital parking charges attacked

Louise Bours, North West UKIP MEP

Hospital parking charges have come under attack from UKIP health spokesman Louise Bours.

"These charges hit people when they are typically at their most stressed, anxious and vulnerable.

“They hit patients when they go to outpatient appointments and they also hit people who are visiting family members, neighbours or friends in hospital.

“It is not just a matter of the financial cost to people – though that can build up for the most dutiful and frequent visitors. It is also a matter of having to make sure you have the right change and the worry that something will cause your visit to over-run and you could get a ticket or even have your car towed away," said Ms Bours, North West Euro-MP.

“Going to hospital as a patient or visitor is a stressful enough thing at the best of times. But when car parks are run as revenue maximising assets rather than as a facility for people it adds significantly to the stress.

"It is an issue that is often raised with me by people talking about their experiences of the NHS. I am delighted that some media outlets are campaigning on this and I fully support them.

"It is wholly wrong that they are run to make a profit on the backs of the vulnerable," added Louise.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/88555/hospital-car-parks-raking-in-millions