AN MSP yesterday launched a bid to abolish car parking fees at Scotland�s PFI hospitals.
AN MSP yesterday launched a bid to abolish car parking fees at Scotland's PFI hospitals.
The Scottish Government scrapped charges at health board-run car parks last year - but paid-for parking remains at three major sites run by private firms.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said it would be too expensive to buy out contracts negotiated under PFI deals at Glasgow and Edinburgh Royal Infirmaries and Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
Amid accusations of hypocrisy from SNP members, Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Martin proposed a bill to make parking at all hospital sites free. He said: "My bill will make it illegal for a health board to levy parking charges on anyone who has to visit a site, for whatever reason.
"If commercial sites like Braehead and Glasgow Fort can provide free parking, it is a sad reflection that people who are being cared for in hospital and their families have to pay to park.
"It is an extra hassle that patients and their families do not need."
He has the support of unions, who have long campaigned against the charges.
Matt McLaughlin, Unison regional organiser, said: "We need a comprehensive solution to car parking across the NHS in Scotland. Unison is backing this bill."
However, Mr Martin was reminded which party was in power when PFI deals were negotiated to build and run car parks at the sites in question.
Dr Ian McKee, SNP member for Lothians, said: "It beggars belief that Paul Martin is now calling for an end to these parking charges. It was a Labour government who introduced them.
"By getting rid of car parking charges and phasing out prescription charges, the SNP have demonstrated a huge commitment to an NHS that is free.
"Sadly, as a result of PFI deals presided over by Labour health ministers between 1998 and 2002, the benefits of free car parking cannot be enjoyed by patients and NHS staff at the royal infirmaries in Edinburgh and Glasgow or Ninewells in Dundee. I struggle to see how Mr Martin's bill will change that."
