Parking charges could be scrapped at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary

Dec 30 2009 by Katie Grant, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

PARKING charges for hospital patients in Huddersfield could be abolished as part of a Government scheme.

But patients and families travelling to visit loved ones at Calderdale Royal Hospital may still have to pay.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham yesterday announced an eight-week consultation period into fairer parking charges at hospitals across the country.

It will look at the possibility of free parking permits for in-patients and their visitors as well as free access for some outpatients attending regular appointments.

Suggestions also include a cap on charges for priority outpatient groups.

Bob Heys, of Calderdale and Kirklees Patient and Public Involvement Forum, welcomed the move.

He said: “Parking charges can end up being very substantial if a patient is visiting the hospital regularly.

“And the longer the person stays who is visiting them the higher the charges are especially if you are staying with someone who is very ill.

“At the moment the system seems to penalise those who are worst off, any changes should address this.”

Parking is already free at most hospitals in Scotland and Wales and for certain priority groups of patients in Northern Ireland.

But many Private Finance Initiative (PFI) hospitals in these countries have had to keep full car parking fees in place until the contract runs out with the firm.

Earlier this year Scottish members of parliament accused the PFI firm behind Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary of making extortionate claims after they demanded £14.5 million to buy out the car parking contract at the hospital.

Calderdale Royal Hospital was also built as part of a PFI and parking is managed by company ISS Mediclean.

The Examiner asked ISS Mediclean whether they currently take the full profits from parking charges in Calderdale, and whether this would affect the ability to cut parking charges for all patients and their families after the consultation.

A spokesman said they were under an obligation not to discuss contractual agreements they had with the hospital in Halifax.

Currently visitors to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital pay £1.50 for two hours of parking.