Greenock Telegraph | News | IRH car park fee plan axed

Friday, 9th January, 2009

Published: Tuesday, 2nd September, 2008 10:00

IRH car park fee plan axed

By Lorraine Tinney

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FEES AXED: Plans for car parking charges at Inverclyde Royal have been scrapped.

PLANS to introduce car parking charges at Inverclyde Royal Hospital have been abolished.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon today announced plans to introduce the unpopular tolls will be scrapped from 31 December.

Union bosses in Inverclyde, who ran a concerted campaign against proposals to impose a parking fee for patients and staff at Inverclyde Royal, have welcomed the decision.

Raymond O’Donoghue, Unison divisional convener in Inverclyde, said: “It is a victory for common sense. I think our campaign, and the overhelming support we received from the people of Inverclyde, helped to get charges scrapped. If it wasn’t for Unison taking up the mantle, car parking charges could be getting introduced in Inverclyde. People power won the day and it’s good to see politcians listen for once.”

Nicola Sturgeon said this morning: “In this 60th anniversary year of NHS Scotland, I am determined the founding principles of our health service remain intact.

“Chief among these is the NHS should be free at the point of delivery and it is my firm belief this should apply whether one comes to hospital as a patient, visitor or a member of staff.

“It’s simply not fair to expect patients or visitors to have to pay when they come to hospital, when they may be suffering personal anxiety, stress or grief. Put bluntly, a car parking charge is often the last thing people need.

“The abolition of charges will also help to reduce the financial burden on patients, staff and visitors to hospitals.

“It gives me great pleasure today to put an end to such charges in all publicly-operated hospital car parks.”