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'Fairer' NHS parking fees pledged 'Fairer' NHS parking fees pledged
(about 2 hours later)
Andy Burnham has outlined proposals to phase out hospital parking charges for in-patients and some out-patients which he says have caused "great resentment". Andy Burnham has outlined proposals to phase out hospital parking charges for inpatients and some outpatients which he says have caused "great resentment".
The health secretary pledged a "fairer" system for relatives and friends of people admitted to hospital in England.The health secretary pledged a "fairer" system for relatives and friends of people admitted to hospital in England.
He is looking at whether to abolish fees for all in-patients' visitors - or just those admitted for a long stay. He said an eight-week consultation would ensure plans were affordable at a time of pressure on NHS finances.
For out-patients he will look at free parking, or a cap on charges, for those who need to make regular appointments. But the Tories said he was "retreating" on a pledge that inpatients and their visitors would not have to pay to park.
Parking is already free at most hospitals in Scotland and Wales and for certain priority groups of patients in Northern Ireland.Parking is already free at most hospitals in Scotland and Wales and for certain priority groups of patients in Northern Ireland.
'Frankly confusing''Frankly confusing'
Mr Burnham announced in September he wanted to phase out over three years charges at hospitals in England for patients who are admitted. Mr Burnham announced in September he wanted to phase out - over three years - charges at hospitals in England for patients who are admitted.
But the eight-week consultation - which runs until 23 February - will also look at charges for out-patients who have to make regular appointments - like cancer patients with regular chemotherapy sessions. The consultation is looking at whether to abolish fees for all inpatients' visitors - or just those admitted for a long stay.
It will also look at charges for outpatients who have to make regular appointments - like cancer patients with regular chemotherapy sessions - and consider whether free parking, or a cap on charges, should be introduced.
Policies on hospital car parking charging policy differ across the UKPolicies on hospital car parking charging policy differ across the UK
Mr Burnham told the BBC: "I think the time has come for a fairer, more consistent approach to parking across the NHS. Frankly I think it's confusing at present, there are a wide variety of parking schemes."Mr Burnham told the BBC: "I think the time has come for a fairer, more consistent approach to parking across the NHS. Frankly I think it's confusing at present, there are a wide variety of parking schemes."
He added it had "caused great resentment" but the government had to ensure that the costs of running secure car parks were covered.He added it had "caused great resentment" but the government had to ensure that the costs of running secure car parks were covered.
NHS trusts have argued that some parking charges are necessary to ensure health funds are not diverted towards managing and maintaining car parks.NHS trusts have argued that some parking charges are necessary to ensure health funds are not diverted towards managing and maintaining car parks.
'Unnecessary tax' 'U-turn'
Mr Burnham said: "We want to have the consultation so we get the balance right, that we don't ask the NHS to do something at a time when there is pressure on its finances that it can't afford. But I believe what we're proposing is affordable."Mr Burnham said: "We want to have the consultation so we get the balance right, that we don't ask the NHS to do something at a time when there is pressure on its finances that it can't afford. But I believe what we're proposing is affordable."
When Mr Burnham announced plans to phase out charges for in-patients in September, Macmillan Cancer Support raised concerns that it would not apply to people with cancer having treatment as out-patients. Macmillan Cancer Support's head of campaigns, Mike Hobday, told the BBC: "Macmillan is really pleased that this consultation could mean free parking for cancer patients who have to go to hospital on average 53 times during the course of their treatment.
The charity's head of campaigns, Mike Hobday, told the BBC on Tuesday: "Macmillan is really pleased that this consultation could mean free parking for cancer patients who have to go to hospital on average 53 times during the course of their treatment.
One hospital alone made £2.8m from car park fees, that can't be right Michael SummersPatients' AssociationOne hospital alone made £2.8m from car park fees, that can't be right Michael SummersPatients' Association
"What we need of course is for all political parties to commit to abolishing this unnecessary tax.""What we need of course is for all political parties to commit to abolishing this unnecessary tax."
But shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the consultation marked "a U-turn" by Mr Burnham.
"He promised that inpatients and their family and friends would not have to pay for parking. But now he is retreating.
"He has no idea how to pay for it, when it will be delivered or how it will be administered. Even his own department is distancing itself from his announcement."
The average charge per hour for hospital car parks in England in 2008/9 was £1.09.The average charge per hour for hospital car parks in England in 2008/9 was £1.09.
Michael Summers, vice chairman of the Patients' Association, told the BBC he had been campaigning for three years to get a better deal for patients and relatives using hospital car parks.Michael Summers, vice chairman of the Patients' Association, told the BBC he had been campaigning for three years to get a better deal for patients and relatives using hospital car parks.
"To have to wait even longer now is something that is obviously not good news because we have got an election pending," he said."To have to wait even longer now is something that is obviously not good news because we have got an election pending," he said.
He said figures suggested NHS hospitals in England raised £110m in parking charges last year "from patients, the patients' families and indeed even staff who seem to have been forgotten in this consultation".He said figures suggested NHS hospitals in England raised £110m in parking charges last year "from patients, the patients' families and indeed even staff who seem to have been forgotten in this consultation".
Mr Summers added: "That's an awful lot of money that's been made out of patients and families. One hospital alone made £2.8m from car park fees, that can't be right."Mr Summers added: "That's an awful lot of money that's been made out of patients and families. One hospital alone made £2.8m from car park fees, that can't be right."