* Ban Car Parking Fees in Hospitals! *

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Author: KieranRoberts

Started: April 14, 2009, 11:22:52 am

Target: The government

Category: Government & Politics

Supporters:

Goal:

100,000

Goal Progress:

Status

Active

Millions of pounds are raised by hospitals each year from patients and their relatives in the form of car parking fees. The figures continue to steadily climb each year as cash-strapped hospitals are forced to supplement their income by relying on this grossly immoral and frankly unacceptable revenue.

It was recently announced that at least 37 NHS trusts raised more than £1 million from patients, visitors and staff according to figures from the Department of Health.

More shockingly, the figures from 2007-8 state that a total of £110 million was raised from hospitals yet in truth, the figure will be exceedingly higher as 68 trusts refused to reveal their profits.

Thats at least £110 million we pay a year to visit our loved ones whilst they suffer.

A recent example of the Government's rebuttal to this: "Waiting times in England are far shorter than in Scotland or Wales." This provides little comfort to the sufferers of conditions such as cancer, undergoing long-term treatments such as chemotherapy. The costs of these vitally frequent visitations soon add up for ailing families and profiting from these afflictions is undisputedly unethical.

What must be recognised here is that the hospitals are not to blame, the Government are.

The idea of charging patients and relatives to visit a hospital in Scotland or Wales is unheard of. If the Government simply subsidise the revenue made from car parking fees, visitors will no longer be put out of pocket for tending to their friends and families and a more moral and serving health service can begin in Great Britain.

Realistically, this can be done. But only with your support.

Thank you.