PARKING CONCERNS

Hospital bosses increased car parking fees by up to 20% at the DRI and up to 10% at the City General. But the new rates, which were introduced on May 1, should never have been charged because they had been rejected as being too high by the board of the trust that runs the hospitals. Directors had supported smaller rises but a mix-up meant the higher costs were introduced instead. The trust's assistant chief executive, Brian Ibell, said, "We are having the machines changed as a matter of urgency and apologise for this honest mistake. To compensate for this, the trust will calculate the amount that has been overcharged since May 1 and donate it to its charitable funds." (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, May/07)

People living near a Derby hospital have won a five-year battle to rid their streets of parked cars. Residents from homes close to Derby City General have been fighting to stop staff and visitors clogging up their roads to avoid hospital parking charges. Last year, in a final attempt to sort out the problem, a residents liason group was formed by people living in Kings Drive, Jackson Avenue and Elms Avenue. They feared that as the new 'superhospital' development started, parking problems outside the hospital would worsen. The group has since worked closely with Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals Trust, which runs the hospital, and the city council, to form some proposals.

Now, Janet Moore, of Jackson Avenue, who is secretary of the residents' group, has said proposals had now been agreed. These include painting staggered double yellow lines in Kings Drive, consulting over residents' parking in Jackson Avenue and constructing raised areas at specific junctions to manage speed. At the same time the trust will campaign to persuade people not to park in local streets and the city council will undertake regular traffic surveys.

Mrs Moore said, "It's been five years and it's been an uphill battle, but I'm happy with the outcome. I feel the group has been vindicated. We regard this as the first in a series of victories and we hope to continue by encouraging the council to take traffic management seriously in the whole area surrounding the hospital." She said the possibility of expanding residents-only parking, subject to local aggreement, would be looked into if the current parking problems were displaced to other nearby roads.

Maureen Anslow, also of Jackson Avenue, said she was pleased something was being done. "Something has to be done, it's so dangerous," she said. "But I'm concerned where family members would park if residents parking was introduced." Funding for the scheme, which has not yet been calculated, will come from the trust. Spokeswoman Jo Yeaman said this was subject to the city council's agreement that money, put aside for schemes like this during the superhospital's development, could be used.

Carol Mee, spokeswoman for Derby City Council, confirmed there should be no problem with the funding. "The council will be acting on these proposals chosen by the residents and we will work with all parties to implement them," she said. The first stage - painting the double yellow lines - should be implemented when the trust closes the Kings Drive entrance to the hospital in August or September. Residents said traffic was at its worst during drop-off and pick-up times at Wren Park Primary School, in Jackson Avenue.

NHS and private parking contractors are making millions of pounds a year by forcing visitors to pay up to £55 A DAY to visit their sick friends or relatives. The ever-increasing charges are also hitting people who need frequent care, including cancer patients. The highest amount being is at the St Thomas's hospital, London where parking costs £2.30 an hour. In contrast, 24 hours at the Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, is just £1.

In many hospitals, visitors face an added charge if they outstay their ticket time they often have their cars clamped and can face fines of up to £100. A St Thomas's spokesman said, "The cost is in line with local parking facilities to ensure our spaces are not abused by people visiting London." A Department of Health spokesman said, "Patients who are eligible to claim reimbursement of travelling expenses under the hospital travel costs scheme may have the charges reimbursed." Note - MAY. (Source: Sunday Mirror)

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is offering discounted parking to football supporters, while charging patients and their families full price. The NHS hospital allows Chelsea fans attending home games at nearby Stamford Bridge to pay £10 for four hours. However, those receiving treatment in accident and emergency and other departments are forced to pay £12.50 to park for the same period. A spokesman for the hospital said, "We actively promote the car park to Chelsea fans attending games because they generate extra income that can be reinvested in front-line patient care. Some visitors are exempt from all parking charges, including parents of children who are being cared for in hospital, bereaved relatives, relatives of patients being treated in intensive care and partners of women in labour." UK hospital visitors spent £95million in 2006 on parking and Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has refused to scrap or cap the charges. (Source: Mail on Sunday, Mar/07)