UNISON Scotland wants all NHS car parking charges abolished

Paul Martin MSP launches his Bill to abolish NHS car parking with the help of UNISON members, at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 12 January 2009

UNISON Scotland has worked closely with Paul Martin, Labour MSP for Glasgow Springburn, to bring forward the NHS Parking Charges (Scotland) Bill.

This will prohibit NHS Boards from charging patients, their visitors and staff for parking at NHS sites; and will require NHS Boards to make reasonable provision for managed free parking at NHS sites.

Campaign to end charges
UNISON Scotland has been at the forefront of the campaign against NHS car parking charges in Scotland since the summer of 2007 when several health boards across Scotland decided to charge all patients, visitors and staff at their hospitals up to £7.00 a day for parking their cars on hospital premises.

Although most car parking charges were recently abolished this did not apply to the three PFI-operated hospital car parks: Ninewells in Dundee, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

In addition, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have introduced a policy limiting parking to 4 hours before imposing a penalty.

UNISON believes this policy is a tax on the sick as well as staff who have to work at these hospitals.

Patients attending hospitals for out-patient treatment and visitors concerned with the health of their families should not have to worry about the cost of parking at a hospital.

Staff employed in the health service frequently have to work long hours with different shift patterns and many need to travel to their place of work by car.

UNISON Scotland is therefore pleased to support Paul Martin MSP with his proposed NHS Parking Charges (Scotland) Bill. This will prohibit NHS Boards from charging patients, their visitors and staff for parking at NHS sites; and will require NHS Boards to make reasonable provision for managed free parking at NHS sites.

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