Christopher Fraser, MP for South West Norfolk, today in Parliament called on the Health Minister to offer local hospitals proper finance, so that they do not have to use car park charges to make up for funding shortfalls.
Figures reveal that hospitals across England and Wales generated around £100 million from car parking charges last year. The second highest earning hospital was the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Trust, which gained £1.2 million.
Speaking after the debate Christopher Fraser said: “Many hospitals are built on the outskirts of towns where there is little public transport, which means people are forced to use their cars. They are an easy target, but it is entirely wrong that hospitals should have look to patients and their families to contribute to patient services in this way.
I am pleased the Minister acknowledged that whilst hospitals should be able to charge parking fees, these charges should be neither disproportionate nor extortionate. He did not accept that hospitals were under pressure from funding shortfalls. I will be monitoring this situation and will continue to campaign for proper funding of our health service so hospitals can deliver the quality of care that my constituents deserve.”
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