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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What is nhs parking money used for?

30 replies

malificent7 · 16/09/2022 06:19

New Nhs staff here. Why do staff and patients have to pay so much to park? Is it a form of taxation that goes into the latest equipment etc? (I doubt it!).

OP posts:
Greenwish · 16/09/2022 06:22

I think it just goes into the Trust’s general funds

Goforgo · 16/09/2022 06:24

Depends whether your trust sold the land or not.
The hospital I work at owns the land and has free parking as a staff benefit.

SpinCityBlues · 16/09/2022 06:26

A lot of it's contracted out. I really don't understand the finances of those arrangements. Who benefits?

anotherbrewplease · 16/09/2022 06:32

It's a complete rip-off and disgusting that staff , patients and visitors have to pay.

The costs in our NHS car park have gone up since Covid and it is now run by Parking Eye .

At the same time - the corridors have radiators on with the windows open (I wish I was making this up) all through the summer. Like how much money is that wasting to make people sweat in the heat we have had this summer? Plus like global warming etc.....

Utterly ludricous and inexpicable.

Auntieobem · 16/09/2022 06:34

It goes to the parking company.

findingsomeone · 16/09/2022 06:35

It's income for the Trust. Some outsource the management of it but they still make a profit after doing that.

Up to three hours to park as a patient is £6.40 where I last worked, compared to £3.90 at the next nearest hospital. It's extortionate.

Original poster
malificent7 · 16/09/2022 06:36

As a student aph i couldn't pay for parking as both pay and display machines were broken. I got a ticket, i explained the situation. The parking contractors insisted i was wrong and made me pay a 60£ fine...as a student!!

OP posts:
anotherbrewplease · 16/09/2022 06:39

@malificent7

what utter pigs - I would report to the local paper if the Chief Exec. of that Trust thinks that is a fair way to treat their staff/students.

It's no wonder they can't recruit nurses.

Cyclingforcake · 16/09/2022 06:42

Our parking fees mainly go to maintenance of the car park. They’ve recently upgraded one, installed electric chargers and barriers that actually work. I don’t mind paying for that.

Sparklingbrook · 16/09/2022 06:43

I had to take someone for an appointment yesterday. I paid £3 for one hour. They were in and out in ten minutes thankfully.
It’s been free for a couple of years though due to Covid so it’s a shock to be paying these prices again.

Toddlerteaplease · 16/09/2022 06:44

@anotherbrewplease we had the radiators on when it was 30oc outside as well. We couldn't believe it. Might as well burn £10 notes.

Rewis · 16/09/2022 06:45

Our carpark is handled by external company. So to their pocket.

But you can file an official complaint about the situation. Tot the parking company and then to whoever in the hospital is in charge of these type of things. Maybe head of external areas and maintenance etc. Also talk to your supervisor and maybe they xan help. Parking is always handled poorly so you should really escalate.

EfficientDynamics · 16/09/2022 06:47

My local hospital employ a contractor to look after it all. Some staff and visitors park quite far away and walk in

Drivebye · 16/09/2022 06:50

Have a look a ppi, used by the Blair government to build hospitals but keep the money off the books. This is one of the reasons why the NHS costs so much to run. The money will be going to the parking companies in most cases.

TeenDivided · 16/09/2022 06:56

I think it is disgraceful that staff have to pay to park.

When MIL was dying in Swindon General, they had a 'pay in advance' system rather than pay on exit. The unnecessary stress it caused was upsetting. I think eventually we were told not to worry and they gave us something for the window (or something? some time ago now).

Skiingwithgin · 16/09/2022 06:57

Most trusts sold their car parks off to other companies years ago to make a quick buck. So the money is just profit for that company minus any maintenance on said car park

Original poster
malificent7 · 16/09/2022 07:06

I can't escalate as it was 3 years ago and as a 1st year i didn't want to be THAT student...i was already having a hard time of it.

OP posts:
Ouchiebum · 16/09/2022 07:12

i have long failed to understand why people think it should be free to park on hospital sites. It is not the core business of the nhs to maintain and secure car parks. Many hospitals are near city centres where, if they were free, shoppers and workers would park, making it even harder for staff and patients to park. Those trusts that have free parking are away from busy areas so this is not an issue.

those saying it’s just about money making are correct. But it’s money to maintain and secure the car park. Plus to pay for the running costs of the hospital. The gas and electricity bill in my local trust has gone up by 8 million this year. That’s after self generating much of their heat and electrics. Either the public pays that increase and car park costs through taxation or users of the car parks pay.

Mybeautifulfriend22 · 16/09/2022 07:14

Ours are parking eye so it goes to them. Presuming the trust sold the land or they pay rent I dunno.

MissyB1 · 16/09/2022 07:20

Ours is a private company, all the profit goes to them not the hospital. The Trust sold them the land 10 years ago. There are not enough staff spaces and no cctv or lighting!
It’s an absolute joke!

TigerRag · 16/09/2022 07:24

Ouchiebum · 16/09/2022 07:12

i have long failed to understand why people think it should be free to park on hospital sites. It is not the core business of the nhs to maintain and secure car parks. Many hospitals are near city centres where, if they were free, shoppers and workers would park, making it even harder for staff and patients to park. Those trusts that have free parking are away from busy areas so this is not an issue.

those saying it’s just about money making are correct. But it’s money to maintain and secure the car park. Plus to pay for the running costs of the hospital. The gas and electricity bill in my local trust has gone up by 8 million this year. That’s after self generating much of their heat and electrics. Either the public pays that increase and car park costs through taxation or users of the car parks pay.

It's another tax on the sick and disabled.

Many are nowhere near a city centre. My local isn't and neither are the 2 I used to attend. Both of those were free to park in.

Zampa · 16/09/2022 07:30

Parking Eye are a car park management company. They won't be the end receiver of the income (although they will charge a fee for their services).

sashagabadon · 16/09/2022 07:35

Most hospitals especially in London have tiny car parks possibly in land not owned by them. If at parks were free all the staff would drive in and there would be literally no where for anyone else ( patients) to park. Then they would be complaining and saying “ I am happy to pay if I could get a space “. Yes you can have some disabled spaces but disabled staff would be in them too. Parking is a cost to the hospital whatever way you look at it. Who should pay if not the users?

Willbe2under2 · 16/09/2022 07:37

Ouchiebum · 16/09/2022 07:12

i have long failed to understand why people think it should be free to park on hospital sites. It is not the core business of the nhs to maintain and secure car parks. Many hospitals are near city centres where, if they were free, shoppers and workers would park, making it even harder for staff and patients to park. Those trusts that have free parking are away from busy areas so this is not an issue.

those saying it’s just about money making are correct. But it’s money to maintain and secure the car park. Plus to pay for the running costs of the hospital. The gas and electricity bill in my local trust has gone up by 8 million this year. That’s after self generating much of their heat and electrics. Either the public pays that increase and car park costs through taxation or users of the car parks pay.

I don't think it should be free for everybody - but I do think staff at the very least should get free parking! Patients should be free as well and then a charge for visitors (there must be a way of distinguishing the two)

sashagabadon · 16/09/2022 07:37

I think most hospitals would happily not have a car park at all. Save all the complaints about maintaining and security and people paying for it!
be careful what you wish for