Hospital parking charges confusing, says health secretary

Health secretary Andy Burnham has spoken out against current car parking charges at NHS hospitals, stating that for many people, they are confusing and unfair.

The minister told the BBC that existing regulations, which see inpatients and some outpatients pay to park their cars, will be revised in the future.

He added that an eight-week consultation will take place to ensure that the plans are cost-effective and not a strain on the NHS as the country attempts to recover from the recession.

Charges are resented by many patients and their families, but the health service has to devise a way of sustaining the cost of secure car parks, Mr Burnham continued.

“I think the time has come for a fairer, more consistent approach to parking across the NHS. Frankly I think it’s confusing at present, there are a wide variety of parking schemes,” he is quoted by the news provider as stating.

In October, the politician announced that if the Labour Party wins the 2010 general election, it will introduce plans to ensue that inpatients are entitled to free parking at hospitals.