Published: Friday, 18th April, 2008 12:00
IRH fee case 'non-existent'
By Russell Steele
Comments (0)
Print Article
FEE DEBATE: Union leaders have attacked plans to charge for car parking at the IRH.
UNION leaders have labelled the case for controversial car park fees at Inverclyde Royal Hospital as ‘non-existent’.
Raymond O’Donoghue, Unison divisional convener, told the Tele NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has no evidence to justify introducing the hated tolls.
He was speaking after health board bosses got a grilling by MSPs at Holyrood over their plans to introduce the charges.
Mr O’Donoghue said: “If they take it hospital-by-hospital, you can blow the case for charges at IRH right out of the water. The argument doesn’t stack up here. We can show there is no need for it.”
Tom Divers, chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, was summoned to appear in front of Holyrood’s public petitions committee this week to defend the charges.
He was met by MSPs demanding to know why the scheme had already been implemented at some hospitals — despite parliament pleas for parking to be kept free.
Mr Divers told them charges were necessary at some hospitals so staff could park, but said he would have to return with evidence to back up his point.
Mr O’Donoghue said: “They may have evidence for Glasgow but I don’t think they’ve got any evidence for IRH.
“There was no consultation within our community, not with staff, local people, or council officials.
“There is no evidence to show people use the car park at the IRH go into shops — there aren’t any nearby.”
The prospect of charges at IRH remains under official review, but Mr O’Donoghue believes they should now be abandoned.
He said: “We don’t even use the parking spaces we have to their maximum potential.
“I keep an eye on the overspill and I’ve never seen it full.
“It usually has about 50 slots available. We are still on guard and the fight goes on.”
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Man, 23, fighting for life
Further Details
