NHS 'missing out' on car park fees

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The NHS is potentially missing out on millions of pounds a year generated from car parking fees that could be going into the coffers of private companies, an investigation will reveal.

Hospital trusts and health boards in the UK rely heavily on private companies to run their car parks, with five big hospitals admitting that none of the money made goes back into the NHS.

A nationwide freedom of information request by the BBC's Watchdog Daily programme found that from 152 responses, 126 hospital trusts and health boards in the UK have car parks that charge for parking.

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Leeds hospital car park fines rage

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Drivers have been left with ‘car park rage’ after they were each fined £100 despite buying a parking ticket.

Now the four motorists have told the Yorkshire Evening Post they will not pay as a matter of principal.

Each driver had parked in a privately-managed ‘pay & display’ car park opposite St James’s Hospital on Beckett Street but bought their tickets from a near-by Leeds City Council ticket machine.

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No cheaper rate for short-term parking at hospital, at least until 2015

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Hospital chiefs have rejected calls from borough politicians to lower the contentiously high parking charges at Watford general hospital.

A hospital boss told councillors last night that there will be no change to charges until at least 2015.

Eric Fehily, associate director of infrastructure at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said the trust was locked into a contract with the company managing it car parks and could not alter its fees until it ends.

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Hospital parking coins in £478,000

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PATIENTS, visitors and staff at St Mary’s Hospital paid out £478,000 in parking charges last year.

Figures released last month reveal the average hospital trust collects £1.055 million a year in parking charges, more than twice the amount ten years ago, and some pocket nearly £4 million.

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NHS hospitals charge patients up to £3 an hour for parking

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One in three NHS hospitals has increased car parking charges for patients and visitors, official figures have disclosed.

Some hospitals tripled fees for patients and their friends and relations, with a handful now charging £3 an hour for parking.

Parking charges are feared to affect elderly people and their families in particular because they are among the most likely to need to drive to hospital, either as patients or visitors.

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