HOSPITAL CAR PARKS SHOULD BE FREE OF FEE,
HOSPITAL CAR PARKS SHOULD BE FREE OF FEE, SAYS GOVERNMENT
Lynda Waltho MP has backed the Government’s pledge to scrap car parking fees for in-patients in local hospitals. The announcement of the plan, to issue hospital patients with a free parking permit for visitors, for the duration of their stay, was unveiled today, by Health Secretary, Andy Burnham.
Speaking from Brighton, Lynda Waltho said: “For a long time we’ve known that adding to the burden of people who are unwell, and their families, by charging a levy to visit hospital is unfair.
Time and again constituents contact me because they’re concerned about the cost of parking at hospital when they visit their relatives. It looks like the Government’s really listening to local people’s concerns with this announcement.
“The plan to provide free parking to inpatients’ visitors is a sensible step. All of us want to be able to visit our loved-ones when they’re in hospital but we shouldn’t be penalised by having to pay extra to park at hospital when we do so.
“This practical step is another example of the Government offering real help when people need it most.”
The move to provide free parking for inpatients’ visitors is being funded by slashing £140 million from NHS bureaucrats’ budgets to in a move designed to offer genuine help to patients and their families.
Lynda Waltho MP concluded: “I hope people will welcome this practical step that’s set to give extra help to people who have the expense of hospital visits, particularly at a time when we’re all reining our finances in.
“If any hospital visitors want further information about this announcement then they should call my office on 01384 374 356.”
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