In-patients ‘to receive free parking at NHS hospitals’

People being treated for prolonged periods by the NHS will qualify for free parking at its hospitals.

This is according to plans laid out by health secretary Andy Burnham, who stated that Labour will implement the changes if it is successful at the next general election, which is scheduled to take place within the next year.

Under the proposals, in-patients will receive a permit that allows them free parking for the duration of their stay in hospitals.

However, the news has been met with criticism from campaign groups due to the number of out-patients requiring regular hospital visits excluded by the plans.

Representative from Macmillan Cancer Support Ciaran Davies said: “We are disappointed that they have ignored the same high cost of parking charges to those cancer patients having treatment as out-patients.”

In other NHS news this week, the service was ranked 14th place in the latest Health Consumer Powerhouse healthcare systems rankings.

It came behind those of countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Iceland, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, which placed first to sixth respectively.