Press Release: NEATH AM WELCOMES REFORM OF HOSPITAL PARKING CHARGES

Neath Labour AM and Deputy Health & Social Services Minister Gwenda Thomas has today warmly welcomed a move by the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government to allow patients, visitors and staff to park for free at almost every hospital in Wales by the end of 2011.

The announcement means that from April 1st this year, car parking on all NHS Trust sites is to be provided free of charge for patients, staff and visitors, unless external contracts are in place.

Where commercial parking contracts are in place, NHS Trusts are being told to reduce parking costs for patients, staff and visitors from 1st June this year. These reduced-cost schemes will then have to remain in place until the end of the contract.

Gwenda Thomas AM said:

“This will be very welcome news for patients, their families and NHS staff across my constituency.

“Under the current system, charges vary widely across Wales. This means that patients, staff and visitors can all be hit with the expense and inconvenience of parking charges, often when they are at their most vulnerable.

“Parking costs have been a major issue for many of my constituents, who will now benefit from free parking at the major hospitals serving my constituency, such as Singleton and Morriston hospitals.

“While Neath Port Talbot Hospital operates a commercial contract and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust (which comes into existence from April 1st) is legally bound to honour the terms of this contract, I am sure that patients, visitors and staff will join with me in welcoming the fact that they will face reduced parking charges from June 1st.

“At last year’s Assembly election, Welsh Labour promised that we would reform charges for hospital parking and today’s announcement means that we are well on the way to doing just that by the end of this Assembly term.”