Current Projects
For some parents, finding a hospital parking space can be a problem………..
But paying for it can be an even bigger nightmare……………
Our current campaign ‘Park the Car – Park the Charges aims to raise the awareness of the prohibitive cost of parking for parents visiting and being with their children in hospital.
New research shows parents could be excluded from playing an essential role on the healthcare team if they cannot meet hospital parking charges.
"A cardinal principle of hospital services for children is complete ease of access to the child by his or her parent. This is not a luxury. It is now generally accepted that the care and comfort of parents for a child is fundamental to the care and treatment of children in hospital”
(Department of Health, 1991).
Naturally, a parent will do anything to be by their child’s side when they require medical treatment. But Action for Sick Children is concerned that some children miss essential hospital appointments due to parent’s worries about the travel and parking costs involved.
Action for Sick Children conducted a telephone audit of 67 hospital trusts in Autumn 2004. This represented around a fifth of all
The average parking charge for a 24 hour stay is £8.50.
Almost a third of hospitals (20), it was more than £10 per day.
The lowest hourly charge was 5Op, rising to £2.50 an hour.
The highest daily charge was £16 for 24 hours.
At one hospital there was a flat hourly rate of £2.30, a 24 hour stay could cost as much as £55.20.
Two hospitals had an hourly rate of £2 an hour, meaning £48 over a 24 hour period.
Just a third of hospitals surveyed (25) offer concessions to parents via the ward or parking office.
Less than half of hospitals (33) provide parking close to the paediatric ward or Intensive Care Unit.
From March 2009 we are re-auditing those 67 hospital trusts to see what changes, if any have been made.
Parents and carers and healthcare professionals we would like to know what your opinions and views are.
We would like your help; we need more voices for our campaign.
We need to remind our local MP’s, Primary Care Trusts and NHS Hospital Trusts that there needs to be:
- An immediate review of pricing and reimbursement policies.
- Extension of the National Service Framework to devolve the current pricing autonomy in hospitals and ensure a standard policy nationwide.
- Ultimately the creation of free ‘Family Visitor’ parking bays in hospital car parks for all parents and carers.
Please contact Action for Sick Children to voice your support for our campaign
