Christopher Fraser, Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk, has expressed support for the cancer charity Macmillan, in their efforts to highlight the hidden costs of care on the NHS.
His comment comes as it is revealed that National Health Service hospitals made more than £95 million in parking charges last year.
Mr Fraser said: I have received dozens of letters for constituents suffering from chronic or critical illness, their families and friends, who find it extremely difficult to cope with the financial cost of frequent hospital visits.
Many out patients are too weak, elderly or infirm to use public transport, where it exists, and are therefore dependant on their cars. To wrest money from patients who may be terminally ill, to help bridge the NHS funding deficit and prop up the NHS is appalling. I have previously called on the Government to review the financial assistance available to patients travelling for treatment, I have today renewed these calls. It seems to me that it is the very least they can do to help.” |