MP calls for debate in House of Commons over parking charges at hospitals

7 May 2015.....Huddersfield election count 2015. Paula Sherriff wins Dewsbury.. Picture Scott Merrylees SM1008/36

Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust has introduced new charges for disabled blue badge holders at Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury Hospitals.

Motorists are charged £2 for parking for up to one hour and £2.80 for longer.

Charges increased for drivers without a blue badge, from £1.30 to £2 for up to one hour and from £4.10 to £5 for between two and four hours.

At Dewsbury and District Hospital, a pay-on-exit charging system was introduced.

Drivers are still allowed 20 minutes free parking for picking up and dropping off patients and visitors.

But Ms Sherriff questioned whether the trust had its priorities right by introducing the new charges.

She said: “Disabled people often find it much harder to use public transport and taking a car to hospital in many cases is their only option.

“I have been contacted by distraught constituents who have to use the hospital several times a week. Many are pensioners and have little disposable income.”

Ms Sherriff wrote to Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust Stephen Eames about the increase in charges and they are due to meet in the next two weeks.

Kevin Oxley, the trust’s director of operations for estates and facilities, said: “We accept these changes are unpopular but they are reasonable steps to provide sufficient parking capacity for those who need it.

“It contributes to the costs of running safe and secure facilities, safeguard access to blue badge parking and concessions for certain groups of patients and visitors.

“Introducing capped car parking charges for blue badge holders will enable us to invest in parking provision for this group of motorists across our three hospitals.”

The blue badge parking charges and charging system at Dewsbury hospital came into force in September.

The increases for other motorists started on Saturday, August 1.

Concessions remain for patients and visitors who have to use the hospitals regularly.

And refunds are available for people on benefits including Pension Credit Guarantee Credits under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.