Shock as hospital parking charges to double

Yorkshire Post Today
Andrew Robinson

HOSPITAL chiefs have been accused of "taxing the sick" by doubling some parking charges at Leeds hospitals.
The biggest shock will be parking for more than five hours – the charge is doubling to £12 for visitors to Leeds General Infirmary and St James's Hospital.
Those parking from two to five hours will pay £6, while it will cost £2 for up to two hours.
Other hospitals, including Seacroft, Chapel Allerton, Cookridge and Wharfedale will also see parking charges rise from Monday.
Cancer patients and others who make repeat visits to hospital will be among those hardest hit.
The rises have angered Macmillan Cancer Support spokeswoman Maureen Rutter, who called them "extortionate" and urged patients to write to their MPs.
Car park charges for staff are also being reviewed.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is currently facing big debts – £25m this year – and providing car parking is actually costing more than it generates in income.
A trust spokesman said: "We appreciate that this increase will come as a disappointment to patients, but in the current financial climate the trust does not believe it is right to continue to subsidise car parking costs with money that could otherwise be used for patient care.
"The provision of car parking facilities costs in excess of £2.2m a year but current income is only £1.4m per year.
"For the last three years the trust has subsidised the shortfall, which is now approaching £1m.
"We are now reviewing all of our parking arrangements in order to make car park provision self-funding.
"We do not intend to do more than cover our costs.
"Prices in the trust's car parks will still be competitive with other hospitals and we hope patients and visitors will understand the reasons for the decision."
The spokesman said the trust was facing a significant financial challenge. It has been estimated that it will need to save £84m over the next three years – £25m of that in 2006-07.
andrew.robinson@ypn.co.uk