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A tax on patients?
2:34pm Friday 8th August 2008
By Chris Yandell »
IT has been branded a tax on the sick and now car parking charges at a Hampshire hospital are on the rise again - just five months after fees were introduced.
A free hour's parking has been scrapped by hospital bosses in the New Forest while the fee for parking for two hours will double.
Health chiefs are scrapping the barrier system at Lymington New Forest Hospital that has been dogged with problems prompting a number of complaints.
Instead it is being replaced with a payand- display scheme - and motorists will face a hike in the cost of short-stay parking when the devices start operating on August 18.
Earlier this year it was revealed that parking charges enabled hospitals across the country to rake in £102m last year.
The second highest earner was Southampton General Hospital, which netted more than £2m.
The British Medical Association Patient Liaison Group said the fees charged by some NHS trusts were unacceptable and amounted to a tax on patients.
Hampshire Primary Care Trust says pay-and-display is being introduced in Lymington because some people have found it difficult to operate the barrier.
"A new tariff being launched on the same day will see a small increase for shorter visits to the hospital,"
said a trust spokesman.
"Revenue from parking charges will be reinvested back into the hospital to further improve the patients' environment.
"The decision to change the system and introduce a new tariff was carried out by the hospital's Travel Group, which comprises staff, union representatives, managers and the League of Friends."
But Lymington councillor Tony Swain said complaints were raised at this week's meeting of the town council. He said: "When you go to the hospital, particularly the minor injuries unit, you don't know how long you're going to be there. "I'd like to see a return to free parking - but nowadays people raise money in whatever way they can." The mayor, Martina Humber, confirmed that councillors were unhappy with the changes and said a special debate would be held on the issue. Free parking at the hospital was scrapped in March, more than a year after the awardwinning complex admitted its first patients. Since the barrier was installed some patients and visitors say they have been unable to reach the button from their car, while others have had problems stopping in the right place to activate the sensor. Some motorists have even driven into the barrier after failing to see it.
- See today's Daily Echo for the full story
Your Say YourEcho
Giles Moore, says...
9:40am Fri 8 Aug 08
parking charges enabled hospitals across the country to rake in £102m
Yep. It went straight into the shareholder's pockets. Er.
Whichever way you look at it, hospitals can't afford to offer quality care, how can they be expected to offer free parking?
clair, Hospitals says...
11:07am Fri 8 Aug 08
clair
Paramjit Bahia, Southampton says...
12:19pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Clair deserves full sympathy. But her experience with these sharks is not unusual. Her analysis of the situation regarding the role of profit oriented privateers should be wake up call for those who have been seduced by New Labour into believing that introduction of out side firms into our NHS is good for the patients.
NurseGladys, Soton says...
4:46pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Paul Redknapp-French, P*rtsmouth says...
5:02pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Paramjit Bahia wrote:Are you not capable of commenting on a story without trying to introduce a political angle onto it? Anyone using hospital car-parks would be expected to pay for this regardless of which political party happened to be in government at the time.
Thanks to this New Labour government's Thatcherite policies Lymington Hospital is managed by private firm. These parasites of our NHS are in business to maximise profits for their share holders and patients will always be their victims. Clair deserves full sympathy. But her experience with these sharks is not unusual. Her analysis of the situation regarding the role of profit oriented privateers should be wake up call for those who have been seduced by New Labour into believing that introduction of out side firms into our NHS is good for the patients.
I agree entirely with your point around the dangers of allowing private companies to run core NHS services, but this is not a valid point here - Lymington hospital is managed by Hampshire Primary Care Trust, part of the NHS.
Skeptik, Soton says...
5:26pm Fri 8 Aug 08
paul b, says...
6:48pm Fri 8 Aug 08
George, says...
7:22pm Fri 8 Aug 08
paul b wrote:Well, apart from those whose illness prevents them from doing so, of course. Numb-nuts
anyyone with half a brain and who isnt too lazy to walk can park nearby for free
Derek, Dibden Purlieu says...
7:25pm Fri 8 Aug 08
paul b wrote:Paul demonstrates two things here. 1/ He is still struggling to lose his status as a half wit. 2/ Paul clearly doesn't know the area as there is nowhere nearby for the sick and frail to walk from. Stick to your X Box and leave comments to the grown ups.
anyyone with half a brain and who isnt too lazy to walk can park nearby for free
Gordon Bennett, says...
7:29pm Fri 8 Aug 08
paul b wrote:Have you had lessons in being a pillock or does it come naturally?
anyyone with half a brain and who isnt too lazy to walk can park nearby for free
Idiot Spotter, Lymington says...
8:15pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Jacqui Southampton, Southampton says...
9:48pm Fri 8 Aug 08
t of the profits raised by the parking charges.
Paramjit Bahia, Southampton says...
11:00pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Skeptik wrote:Dear Skeptik
Paul R French - Paramjit and others blame Mrs T for all the country's ills. I wonder what state the country would be in if she had not been PM. Those of us not brainwashed can remember the last Labour government. Yes she made decisions that hurt - nonsense to suggest that any other government would not have eventually been forced to make the same decisions.
You are partly right because along with Lady Thatcher we also blame her followers in New Labour.
In fairness to T I have to admit that most people knew what she was all about, but that is difficult to say about slippery Brown and co.
Hey you should be a happy person your reincarnated Blair in the shape of Cameron seem to be doing well in opinion polls...so stop picking on us.
Kind regards
Quite frankly...., Orbiting Planet Idiot says...
11:24pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Paramjit Bahia wrote:Thatcher was the visionary repressed whore who appealed to a chronically thick and self-centred electorate, offering empty promises whilst selling out to multi-national power. There should be street parties when that **** dies.
Skeptik wrote: Paul R French - Paramjit and others blame Mrs T for all the country's ills. I wonder what state the country would be in if she had not been PM. Those of us not brainwashed can remember the last Labour government. Yes she made decisions that hurt - nonsense to suggest that any other government would not have eventually been forced to make the same decisions.Dear Skeptik You are partly right because along with Lady Thatcher we also blame her followers in New Labour. In fairness to T I have to admit that most people knew what she was all about, but that is difficult to say about slippery Brown and co. Hey you should be a happy person your reincarnated Blair in the shape of Cameron seem to be doing well in opinion polls...so stop picking on us. Kind regards
Jacques Meahoff, Hampshire says...
12:49am Sat 9 Aug 08
I could try to explain but your schoolboy level of intelligence exhibited in your earlier post suggests that it is beyond your ability to understand.
When you have taken you GCSEs (as if!) you may just be able to grasp the concept.
Let's try again in, shall we say three years?
George of Lordshill, Lordshill says...
5:06am Sat 9 Aug 08
The **** destroyed British industry sold this country out to foreign multi-nationals.
If that wasn't bad enough she ensured we fought a war in the Falklands that need not have been fought just to bolster her political career.
What !, Southampton says...
5:47am Sat 9 Aug 08
standing on my own two feet, says...
6:26am Sat 9 Aug 08
Whiners!
If you dont want to pay to park at a hospital then take better care of yourself or get your relative take better care of themself. Then neither of you would be a sick patient at a hospital or visiting a sick relative at a hospital.
Stop whining! It will just make you sick.
I AM a brain surgeon, says...
6:53am Sat 9 Aug 08
Paramjit Bahia wrote:How can "New Labour" be "New" after 10 years?
Thanks to this New Labour government\'s Thatcherite policies Lymington Hospital is managed by private firm. These parasites of our NHS are in business to maximise profits for their share holders and patients will always be their victims.
Clair deserves full sympathy. But her experience with these sharks is not unusual. Her analysis of the situation regarding the role of profit oriented privateers should be wake up call for those who have been seduced by New Labour into believing that introduction of out side firms into our NHS is good for the patients.
You introduce the words "New Labour" into every post you make. It is incredibly tedious and banal.
You trot out the same tired argument all the time.
It seems like it is impossible for you to make a contribution that is not a regurgitated version of what you wrote the day before or the day before that or the day before that.
Not every story or article or response to a story or response to a posting has a political connotion to it. Yet you invent a political element or dimension when none exists.
This is totally daft, lopsided and bordering on a fixation warranting a visit to your doctor.
You clearly are someone with a brain. Why not use it. Be sparkling. Stun, startle, impress, people with your agile mind. Right now your brain rambles in a worn out unintelligent rut.
I spy, says...
7:26am Sat 9 Aug 08
Skeptik, soton says...
7:30am Sat 9 Aug 08
The old soldier in me target pops up !
Have a nice day
Regards
Not a relative of Paul B, says...
7:30am Sat 9 Aug 08
I'm Mad, says...
8:21am Sat 9 Aug 08
Gordon Bennett wrote:Dear Gorgon,
paul b wrote: anyyone with half a brain and who isnt too lazy to walk can park nearby for freeHave you had lessons in being a pillock or does it come naturally?
Was Paul correct about the parking?
Aleister Crowley, Southampton says...
8:31am Sat 9 Aug 08
anyyone with half a brain and who isnt too lazy to walk can park nearby for free
Most local areas around hospitals have permit parking patrolled by parasitic parking wardens dimbo
Mike, Soton says...
9:28am Sat 9 Aug 08
paul b, says...
10:06am Sat 9 Aug 08
Mike wrote:Exactly my thoughts
Most people could avoid paying the exorbitant parking charges with a little thought. How about parking elsewhere where it is free and either walking to the hospital or taking the bus? The over 60s can use their bus passes and it would cost them nothing.
People just like to moan
if it was free, there would be nowhere to park and then they would still moan
The problems we face are fat people needing too much medical attention and benefit scroungers
NurseGladys, Soton says...
11:16am Sat 9 Aug 08
Mike wrote:What about Staff Mike? Some of don't live within easy communting distance from work, so have to drive. And the cost of parking at work is almost £25 a month. Should i have to come out of work a 10pm and walk somewhere else on my own to collect my car?? Know what your saying but some people have no other choices patients, visitors and staff!
Most people could avoid paying the exorbitant parking charges with a little thought. How about parking elsewhere where it is free and either walking to the hospital or taking the bus? The over 60s can use their bus passes and it would cost them nothing.
now in the north, bolton, from southampton says...
8:42pm Sun 10 Aug 08
now on the bog having a crap, says...
9:11pm Sun 10 Aug 08
now in the north wrote:What a boring little whiner you are.
Southampton hospital spent something like £200K on curtains for some areas in the hospital to brighten it up. While its great they wanted the place to look nice, spending money on curtains they wanted but didnt need seems wasteful to me. Surely that money could have been better spent...as could the £2K they raised in parking fees (let alone fines!!) And dont forget, we pay taxes to fund the NHS...then we have to pay to park, and our vistors the same, along with expensive shops and vending machines also making massive profits! Scrooge keeps scraping it in and complaining theres not enough!
Nobody owes you a living or needs to subsidise you a penny.
stand on your own two feet, you pathetic complainer
Niall, says...
3:07pm Mon 18 Aug 08
register a complaint and follow it through. lets you basically join in a group complaint like a petition. might be worth a look :)complaintcommunity
.com
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