Medical Malpractice

Should hospitals and other public services charges people for parking?

Mr.GorgeousFluffpot had an Xray today and we parked in the hospital parking bay. He was in there for ten minutes and we had to pay £2 ... yes, £2, for the parking!! I should add that all the local roads around there are double-yellow lines so there's nowhere else to park. But this hospital is difficult to reach by bus and the nearest train station is a distance away. Mr. GF and I could have walked, if we really wanted to, but some people have no choice if they are ill or infirm. We pay enough taxes so why should the hospitals then try to charge you, or tax you, on getting there for essential services? What do YOU think? *goes off in a huff and sits down to compose a very rude letter to the hospital director*! Aaaah, Level8, you are so sweet! Thank you, Mr.GorgeousFluffpot is blushing down to his little fluffy booties!

Public Comments

1. It's wrong the amount that they charge to park in a hospital, very wrong. Just another wrong thing with health care.
2. I think with hospital having to give so much of their/our money to the private sector they need to make money somehow.
3. No they shouldn't charge people! Maybe someone is dying and you pay the medical bill that's fine but charging for parking, that's just stupid!
4. I hope his letter gets things changed. It's wrong. If the hospital won't budge, they better figure out a way of putting it on an insurance claim form because if I need treatment or have to go to the hospital on an emergency, I'm not going to think about having cash on me.
5. Mrs Gorgeousfluffpot, you are one classy woman. Things like this would never be acceptable in America. I suggest you and Mr Gorgeousfluffpot come live over here, immediately. Best of wishes from America to Mr Gorgeousfluffpot.
6. No. They should take it out of all the NI we pay each month. B*A*S*T*A*R*D*S
7. It's maddening, isn't it? But people who are visiting hospital often (either themselves or visiting family for a long time) should discuss the situation with the ward sister as it is possible to get the charges reimbursed in some cases.
8. I would be far more worried about the fact that a teddy is getting an Xray in the first place.
9. It's wrong - parkiing should be free. I read of one hospital that said the car parking revenue went to the hospital to help balance the books _ so therefore if we got free parking then they would have to find the money from elsewhere> the people it really hits are those who have to visit relatives in for a long stay or people who have to keep going in for treatment on a regular basis>
10. no i dont think that we should have to pay for parking its not like our cars need to be fed and watered while we are gone
11. You are absolutely right. What this does, again, is take from the poorer to gve to the rich. It should all be free. The tax rate for higher earners could stand a bit more, I think.
12. it is totally wrong that hospitals should charge people to park there here in the Isle of Man we have a 111 million hospital that was opened 4 years ago and nobody has ever been charged for parking there and that is the way it should be
13. Parking should always be free.
14. You will find that nearly all N.H.S hospitals charge for parking ,and there chargers are way over the top ,but not much you can do about it
15. I don't think they should charge either. My father was in ICU for over two weeks and where the hospital was located I had no choice but to use their parking area and pay the fee's. I was there everyday for over two weeks for 8 to 10 hrs. each day.
16. Up here we don't have to pay for parking at all, in fact, my Son had a doctors appointment at the hospital not so long ago and they not only let me park in the parking garage but they had Vallet and parked my car for me cuz he was running late for his appointment. In fact, it's quite an inconvieniance for the doctors and nurses here because THEY are the ones who have to pay for parking. Most of them park 10-20 miles away or so and take a bus to the hospital. Apperently they get free bus passes when they work at the hospitals here so they can get to work.. That's the way it should be everywhere. In Washington, they not only have perferred parking at grocery stores for handicapped, they have perferred parking for women with children too right up next to the door and the kids carts. In fact, it's rare to find a store there that doesn't have child care while your shopping too!!! THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE!!
17. I can understand your anger. I was rushed into redditch hospital at 1am in the morning a few weeks ago and my husband followed the ambulance in his car. Obviously when we got there he parked and tracked my down in A&E. After about 4 hours I was transferred to a war and he atyed with me until 8 am in theorning . At that point I was morphined up to the eyeballs so he went 'home' to get some sleep and sort out some night things for me (I was in for 8 days). When he went to get the car he disciverd that he had to pay £7.50 to get out. Short of leaving me in agny on my own in hospital he really had not had a choice - so yes . i think it is appalling
18. It's a disgrace!! My 83 year old father has to make regular trips to the hospital often to be there for 9am. There are no busses or trains close to the hospital so he has no choice but to drive and he often has to spend £15!! Yes £15 on the car park!!
19. wrong but unless they get more funding it will only get worse
20. its outrageous - we've already paid for the hospital / staff and its grounds out of our taxes then when we need to use the facilities they charge us again!
21. Of course it is wrong and what is worse that people, such as my ex wife, who is a wonderful nurse have to pay to park their cars and they work at the damn place!