Hospital parking Targeted treatment Sarah Juggins looks at the possible impact of the government promise to introduce a measure of free parking at hospitals in England from April 2020 L eading up to the 2019 General Election, one proposed policy among the many ying around caught the attention of most in the parking sector. Both the Labour and Conservative parties promised to provide a measure of free hospital parking. Labours pledge was to make hospital parking free for all users, while the Conservatives made the more prudent commitment to remove charges for certain groups of users. In the wake of the election win, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that Tory promise would be upheld. From April 2020, hospital trusts in England will be mandated to provide free car parking for Blue Badge holders and outpatients who regularly attend appointments for long-term conditions. There will also be free parking for the parents of children who are in hospital overnight and hospital staff working night shifts. New approach to charges Announcing the policy, Hancock said: One of the concerns mentioned regularly on the doorsteps [during the election campaign] was that vulnerable people, and staff working nights, have to pay for hospital car parking. So, we are delivering on our manifesto commitment and setting out our new approach to NHS hospital parking charges. To this point, car parking charges have been the responsibility of individual trusts in England and in Northern Ireland. In Scotland and Wales, more than 10 years ago, their governments decreed that hospital parking should be free at NHS hospitals, although exclusions and transition arrangements were made for hospitals under public nance initiative (PFI) schemes. The announcement by the Health Secretary is likely to add fuel to the debate that has simmered for many years (see Parking News, April 2018, pages 28-30). The reasons for and against free parking are many, varied and complex, but unsurprisingly, money is a major factor. Those in favour of free car parking argue that the charges hit the most vulnerable in society; those against free parking say that the costs of maintaining the car park facility has to be met by charges. If this were not the case, then the costs would be taken from frontline medical care. A welcome move? One group that has welcomed the move is Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity working on behalf of cancer patients and their families. Cancer can be a huge burden on your nances and in England, hospital car parking charges especially for those undergoing regular treatment can add signicantly to this strain, says director of policy, campaigns and inuence Dr Moira Fraser-Pearce. This long-awaited announcement will be a game-changer for many, allowing them to attend appointments and focus on their health without the extra worry about their nances. Another group hugely in favour of free parking for staff is public services union Unison, which represents 1.3 million members. Unison acknowledges that there are costs involved in running hospital car parks and would seek to work with trusts and boards to nd a reasonable way forward to meet those costs, says Val Johnston, assistant national ocer. It is also important to work towards a green agenda, for example, developing sustainable transport schemes such as staff buses, pool cars for community staff, park-and-ride and carsharing schemes, and incentives for bicycle use. Johnston makes it clear that Unison believes the government needs to invest in the NHS, arguing that parking funds should not be relied upon to fund services. She also adds that the union is keen to work with BPA members to explore ways of making parking schemes better, including using new technology. From April 2020, hospital trusts in England will be mandated to provide free car parking for some patients, visitors and staff Complex issues But not everyone agrees that the Conservative plan is a good one. The National Performance Advisory Group 16 britishparking.co.uk PN Feb20 pp16-19 Lead Feature.indd 16 23/01/2020 12:06