Health chiefs defend parking cost increase

They have been seriously criticised for introducing the new fees without telling the public.

Dr Brian Iddon, MP for Bolton South-east, has condemned the action of Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust trust for not openly debating the issue.

Patients were left dismayed when they turned up at the Minerva Road site to find that the cost of parking had risen from £1 to £1.50.

Dr Iddon is now calling for extra financial help for those out-patients who need to travel to the hospital on a regular basis.

He said: "This whole issue is a concern for the public and should have been debated in the public arena." Health watchdog the Community Health Council has also expressed its anger that the hospital brought in the charges without warning.

A CHC spokesman said: "We understand that they have to charge, but are annoyed that no notice was given of the increase."

The group also said it hoped the extra money raised would be put back into improving parking at the hospital.

Commenting on the issue, the hospital said: "Some visitors and the CHC have voiced concerns about the way in which the charges were introduced without prior warning.

"We have listened carefully to what they have to say and the Trust will consider how we might do things differently in future."

The hospital said it regularly reviewed parking charges for visitors and had not put up fees for four years.

The hospital added: "We don't like having to charge people at all. However, without charging them we would not be able to keep the car parks in a good and secure condition and we would have less money to spend on treating our patients.

"Most acute hospitals like us charge visitors, and a number charge more than we do.

"We have a system where people who need to make several visits can buy tickets at reduced prices. They can get details from staff."

The hospital also said its plans to bring in more money no longer included proposals to charge staff for parking at the present time.

The Bolton Evening News reported yesterday how the proposal was put forward as a way of making money for the cash-strapped hospital. Other ideas included bringing in a retail giant, such as McDonald's or WH Smith, to open a store on site.

A statement from the hospital today said: "We have been considering for some time the best way of addressing the car parking difficulties at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

"The Trust board will be considering a comprehensive strategy to solve the problems once and for all. It is likely to include a multi-storey car park and a system of barriered visitor and staff car parks. This would resolve the problems, but may take up to two years to implement.

"It would inevitably have a high cost and would mean charges to staff and increased charges for visitors. This is to cover the additional cost of investment."

The hospital said that the Trust's financial position meant it had to consider other ways to increase income, for example, the extension of the existing voluntary reserved parking scheme for staff to more areas.

The hospital added: "Staff representatives are fully aware of all of this and we shall be working closely with them on any proposals which affect staff parking. We have told staff that we welcome their ideas and suggestions."

Charges

at other

hospitals

MOST other hospitals in the region charge patients, visitors and staff for parking.

Fairfield Hospital, Bury, does not charge staff or patients for parking.

Blackburn, Ribble and Hyndburn hospitals charge patients and visitors 70 pence for an unlimited stay. Staff pay £5.62 a month.

Hope Hospital, Salford, charges patients and visitors £1 for up to four hours parking and £10 afterwards.

The Royal Preston Hospital charges 70p to patients and visitors and £60 a year for staff parking.

Manchester Royal Infirmary charges £1.50 for patients and visitor parking. The cost for staff is on a sliding scale to what they earn.

The Wigan Royal Infirmary did not release ITS figures.