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Hospital parking charges increase at almost half of health trusts.

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I have regular hospital appointments here in Wales and parking is free.

If you can find a vacant space that is..

Today I went for my regular blood test and managed to find a space.

Whilst waiting for the results I returned to my car for an hour, had a coffee, took my medication, read a book.

A family arrived and parked next to me. Half an hour later they returned with arms full of presents they had received, obviously from visiting friends nearby.

During that half hour there were numerous cars driving around the carpark looking for a space. Some I presume were late for appointments due to the abuse of others like the family I mention.

 

Imagine if parking was free at the Hallamshire in Sheffield.

It would be full by office workers, shop workers, etc.

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23 hours ago, Shafeeq said:

Can you trust any politician?  I think some are certainly more trustworthy than others, by examining their track record of actions in serving the community they serve, and not their words.  That is a wider topic!

 

But the issue of outsourcing of services is a reality of today.  It is not a specialist area of mine, nor do I have responsibility of an NHS Trust... but until we have more ethic in our working practices this kind of thing will continue. There is nothing stopping an NHS Trust from finding a solution that works for all, but I am sure they would feel under pressure given the constant cuts and level of under-funding of the NHS. Hence a wider solution to the NHS is key to enable hospital car parking to become free.  I would suggest that tickets that can be validated within the hospital to ensure genuine hospital users only benefit would be part of such a solution.

 

 

The problem is if you provide free parking there is soon no parking space as the bays rapidly fill up with commuters and shoppers using the hospitals as a park and ride facility.

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20 hours ago, Resident said:

Stop the wastage in the NHS, the massive overpaying on basic items where the costs of things like toilet rolls are ridiculously inflated. 

 

Stop paying obsence hourly rates for agency nurses (a family member works for the NHS and has come across agency nurses on £45+ per hour) & strike off for life any member of staff caught committing "time-sheet fraud" where they call in sick for their Trust shift and go do an agency shift at another hospital. 

 

The NHS isn't as underfunded as the hospital chiefs would have you believe. 

I have to agree with this.

 

Maybe somebody can explain to me why paying ridiculously ehorbitant prices for NHS basics is tolerated?

Surely, with their buying power, they should be able to strike the best deals possible. If not, then the (probably)highly  overpaid executive in charge should be on his way, and somebody who can, be put in charge.

 

As for agency fraud, yes, of course it should be stopped.

But we live in a time where everyone is on the make, especially those at the top who should be setting a good example.

When MPs etc. fraudulently claim expenses (and yes it's still going on,) how can you expect those on considerably less to be honest? 

 

It all starts at the top.

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22 hours ago, Resident said:

Stop the wastage in the NHS, the massive overpaying on basic items where the costs of things like toilet rolls are ridiculously inflated.

 

The Conservative said this before they were elected, we must accept that getting basic medication is not quite so cheap in a hospital compared to a supermarket.

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4 hours ago, Anna B said:

I have to agree with this.

 

Maybe somebody can explain to me why paying ridiculously ehorbitant prices for NHS basics is tolerated?

Surely, with their buying power, they should be able to strike the best deals possible. If not, then the (probably)highly  overpaid executive in charge should be on his way, and somebody who can, be put in charge.

 

As for agency fraud, yes, of course it should be stopped.

But we live in a time where everyone is on the make, especially those at the top who should be setting a good example.

When MPs etc. fraudulently claim expenses (and yes it's still going on,) how can you expect those on considerably less to be honest? 

 

It all starts at the top.

Although I have zero proof, I BELIEVE that those in charge of purse strings clearly have "interests" in the supplying companies they chose, why else would they choose expensive options if it's not to line shareholder's pockets of the supplier, of which they reap a benefit. 

3 hours ago, El Cid said:

The Conservative said this before they were elected, we must accept that getting basic medication is not quite so cheap in a hospital compared to a supermarket.

Why should the taxpayer accept this? If a supplier can sell a product at say £1.00 per unit to a supermarket chain then why should the taxpayer accept that the same company charges the NHS £3 for the same unit?

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How come the car parks are free for the NHS in Scotland but not in England?

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3 hours ago, Resident said:

Although I have zero proof, I BELIEVE that those in charge of purse strings clearly have "interests" in the supplying companies they chose, why else would they choose expensive options if it's not to line shareholder's pockets of the supplier, of which they reap a benefit. 

Why should the taxpayer accept this? If a supplier can sell a product at say £1.00 per unit to a supermarket chain then why should the taxpayer accept that the same company charges the NHS £3 for the same unit?

Yes, I agree with this too.

 

All part of the corruption I was talking about.

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3 hours ago, Resident said:

Why should the taxpayer accept this?

 

It's all just part of taxing the use of a private car; poorer people use public transport, which is better for peoples health and the environment.

I don't support high parking charges, there should be a regular user scheme, like they have for prescriptions.

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At some hospitals frequent visitors might be able to get reduced parking charges, eg:

Quote

Car parking concessions

Motor cycles and bicycles : Free  
Long stay / frequent clinics: For those partners/patients who have family in the Hospital for a period longer than 7 days, or patients attending Outpatients clinics frequently (3 times per week), a daily pass will be issued by security which will be £1.00 per visit. Senior ward staff will need to fill in the concessionary parking form and take this to security who will issue the ticket bringing it down to £1.00. On receipt of the information Security will issue a ticket to the value of £1.00.  Patients/visitors are asked to speak to a senior ward staff member for more information.

 

Edited by Jomie

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13 hours ago, Pyrotequila said:

How come the car parks are free for the NHS in Scotland but not in England?

scotland is a different country and the scottish government decided to make car parking free

 

the welsh government did the same thing

Edited by andyofborg

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18 hours ago, Anna B said:

 

Maybe somebody can explain to me why paying ridiculously ehorbitant prices for NHS basics is tolerated?

Surely, with their buying power, they should be able to strike the best deals possible. If not, then the (probably)highly  overpaid executive in charge should be on his way, and somebody who can, be put in charge.

 

until fairly recently, purchasing was done by individual trusts so they didn't have much in the way of buying power, especially the smaller trusts.

 

a central procurement organisation was set up four or five years ago which is delivering  significant savings on many items. 

 

however, bear in mind that sainsbury's for example has almost 1500 stores, and  over18.5 million customers per week that provides them with massive buying power. 

 

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ANPR camera system at entry to car park. Go in, have your appointment, come out, and tap our reg number in. Only if you are a hospital visitor can you do that, and then for you parking is free.

 

But that of course wont make the trusts as much money so there you go...

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