Topic: | Reply from Ecouvert Fm to parking charges. | |
Posted by: | Ina Chureetur | |
Date/Time: | 29/12/05 13:14:00 |
Hi all, I wrote a letter to EcouvertFm regarding the hospital parking Fees and was pleased that they replied.I am going to paste their reply and would like peoples opinion on it. Dear Ms Chureetur, Thank you for your e-mail dated 13th December 2005 reference car parking at West Middlesex University Hospital. I attach, for your consideration, a consultation paper that has now been distributed to all interested parties and in particular the Residents Association. I hope this is sufficient information at this time but as you can see the subject is of car parking at the hospital is under review. We would welcome further comments you may have. Kind Regards Ecovert FM Proposal to change parking arrangements at West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust This consultation paper is part of the Trust’s ongoing review of car parking arrangements on the hospital premises. It invites your comments and views on the proposals, which aim to ensure the arrangements are fair to all users whilst making appropriate use of public money. Basis for the review The Trust has developed a Travel Plan, which aims to facilitate effective access to the hospital site by patients, staff and visitors whilst endeavouring to minimise the impact of this travel on the environment. The plan also aims to ensure continued investment in a range of travel options and, where necessary, investment in improved facilities including CCTV or better lighting for all users. The plan has been in operation for 12 months and these proposals aim to develop the Plan further by ensuring that charges for parking are fair to all our users. It is important that we acknowledge that there is a cost to the NHS in providing car parking facilities. The costs relate to ongoing maintenance, security and management of these facilities. We also have to ensure dedicated emergency, essential user, staff and disabled spaces are effectively controlled and available when required. Unlike many London hospitals the Trust is fortunate to have ample public car parking which is closely located to the hospital building and includes dedicated disabled bays at suitable locations. Currently, parking for disabled badge holders is free but the cost of this is met through increased parking charges for all other users, who in many cases are no more able to afford to pay for parking than disabled users. Also, there is no provision for reduced parking charges for patients attending regularly for outpatient appointments or for carers/relatives of patients who are in hospital for long periods. Why do the current arrangements need to change? § The current charging scheme is inequitable as the general car parking charges are inflated to cover the cost of free disabled parking. § The Trust does not currently offer concessionary rates for patients attending frequently or relatives of long stay patients. This is causing financial hardship to some patients and their families. § There is a potential cost of policing free parking for disabled users which could lead to further increases in charges for other users § The Trust cannot divert money away from clinical services to subsidise users or pay for the up keep of car parks. § The Trust relies on parking income to subsidies the cost of our facilities. Although we cannot afford to jeopardise this income stream neither do we wish to abuse it through excessive parking charges. Options Three options are being considered: 1. Continued ample free parking for disabled badge holders and the introduction of concessionary rates for regular users. This would lead to a further increase in car parking charges for general users, substantially above the rate of inflation. 2. Limited additional provision of free but time restricted (short stay) parking for disabled badge holders outside the main car parks with charges for disabled badge holders within the main car parks in line with general parking charges. In addition the introduction of concessionary rates for frequent patients and relatives who regularly visit long stay patients (over 2 weeks). This would lead to an inflationary increase only in charges. 3. Introduce charges for disabled badge holders in line with general parking charges and a concessionary rate for patients who have to attend the hospital on a frequent (i.e. daily outpatient treatment for a sustained period of time) and relatives who regularly visit long stay patients (over 2 weeks). Note: there is no legal requirement to provide free or reduced parking facilities for disabled badge holders. Comments on these proposals If you have any comments on the above proposals, please send them to Corporate Affairs, West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, Twickenham Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW3 2HP or email to corporate.affairs@wmuh.nhs.uk. Closing date for comments is 27th January 2006. Background on current charges and their implications The new hospital building was opened in 2003. In July 2004 the new car parks were opened and disabled badge holders were required to pay for their parking at general tariff rates. In response to public concern, the Trust & the company that manages the car parks, Ecovert, agreed to continue with free disabled parking in the short term while the system was reviewed. For the next 7 months this was at an additional cost to the hospital. In February 2005, an above inflation increase to the general parking charges was introduced to contribute to cost of free parking for disabled badge holders. However, the true cost to the NHS of free disabled parking is still in excess of £24k per annum which is unsustainable in the long term. In addition to this, the Trust has become aware that a number of visitors have suffered financial hardship as a result of parking charges incurred by relatives regularly visiting long stay patients. The Trust is keen to find a solution to alleviate the difficulties of this group of visitors. |