Katrina Murray

By Kate Ramsden

Congress pledged to continue the campaign for safe, adequate and affordable car parking at NHS hospitals and condemned the hospitals which continue to levy car parking charges on patients, families, visitors and staff, often for private profit.

Supporting the motion from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, UNISON’s Katrina Murray told congress that parking charges are not in the interests of either staff or patients.

"Where is it in the best interests of patients that staff have to leave outpatient clinics to move their cars rather than risk a £40 fine?" she asked. "Imagine sitting in a busy A&E whilst a loved one is waiting for treatment, X-rays, tests etc. till you hit the 4 hour mark and face a £40 fine."

Slamming metered parking as immoral, Katrina also described how the recent VAT cut cost the NHS £29,000 to re-calibrate the meters. "It will be the same again if VAT goes back up," she said.

She called on affiliates to support Paul Martin’s Bill to end parking charges in the NHS and to keep the NHS car parks safe for patients, visitors and staff alike.

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