When the Scottish Government announced ten years ago that it was abolishing parking charges at hospitals, it was presented as a matter of morality. Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing – as she was then – Nicola Sturgeon, said: “It’s simply not fair to expect patients or visitors to have to pay when they come to hospital, when they may be suffering personal anxiety, stress or grief... a car parking charge is often the last thing people need.”
Most people would agree. Patients shouldn’t feel they are being ripped off for parking, just because they need hospital care, likewise those visiting sick relatives.
And a hospital visit isn’t something you can necessarily exercise much control over. Waiting times ( in A&E, for instance, where targets are regularly missed) can make parking unpredictable; parking further away may be impossible for patients with mobility problems. Public transport may be insufficient, or unsuitable - for example for some cancer patients
The plight of staff is equally concerning. Shift times may mean alternative transport is unavailable, or shift overruns can mean tickets expire. Ms Sturgeon’s words apply equally to our valued NHS workers – the last thing they need is harassment and parking fines simply for turning up to work.
That is the accusation though from public sector union Unison which has accused the private firm responsible for parking at Glasgow Royal Infirmary of bullying and harassing NHS workers. A debt collection firm acting on behalf of private parking firm Apcoa has threatened staff with wage freezes and a damaged credit rating, over unpaid fines.
While The Scottish Government boasts that its free parking policy has saved patients and their relatives more than £32 million, it does not apply in some cases when PFI is involved. The Royal Infirmaries of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee’s Ninewells hospital are all affected by pre-existing contracts, part of private finance initiative projects which it would be prohibitively expensive for ministers to unpick.
It is easy to say those who don’t abide by the rules should accept their punishment and pay up. But the fact is many health workers who try to do the right thing find it less than easy.
Earlier this year it was revealed that more than 2000 NHS workers across just five of Scotland’s health boards are on waiting lists for permits that would allow them to park at the hospital or clinic where they work.
This, like the situation at GRI is unsatisfactory and untenable. We need to support not persecute hard-pressed NHS workers. Earlier this year the Scottish Government was urged then to carry out a national review of NHS parking. It should heed those calls.
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