Anger at bid to charge patients

[okarol]

Anger at bid to charge patients

21 June 2007
EDITORIAL - editorial@thecomet.net

THE chairman of Lister Kidney Foundation has slammed hospital chiefs' proposal to charge dialysis patients for parking.

As reported in last week's Comet, the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust is proposing to charge disabled blue badge holders for using parking facilities at Lister, the QEII and Hertford County hospitals from July 1.

But the chairman of Lister Kidney Foundation, Fiona Loud, has just discovered the charges will also extend to dialysis patients, who typically spend five hours a day, three days a week, for years, undergoing treatment in hospital.

The Trust said the changes to the parking policy were driven by the need for improved fairness in how parking charges are applied to different groups of patients and visitors, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, parents with children in the special care baby unit, and renal dialysis.

But Mrs Loud said: "Patients in the first two groups are completely different to those in renal, as their visits are time-limited.

"Dialysis patients attend three times a week, every week, year in and year out. Some will never be able to have a transplant and many will be on the waiting list for five or 10 years.

"I am a patient who was on dialysis for five years until recently, so I speak from personal experience."

She added: "Some dialysis patients are on disability benefit as they are unable to work, but do not qualify for income support. They will be unable to claim this (parking) money back and are therefore penalised for their illness.

"The hospital shuttle service is also under constant threat. It has been temporarily reprieved but the prices have gone up. How does this encourage patients to use it? Many patients of course do not live within the shuttle area anyway."

The Trust is part way through an informal consultation with a number of groups, which began on May 21, regarding the parking charge proposals.

A spokesman for the Trust said: "The views that have been returned to us will be taken into account as we move towards making a final decision."

He added: "Of course many people on dialysis come to hospital using the free, door-to-door non-emergency patient transport service, with very few - around 35 at the moment - coming by private car to Lister."

For more information about the Lister Kidney Foundation, visit: www.listerkidneyfoundation.org

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[Black]

I don't understand how any medical facility could possibly justify charging anyone for parking! 

If they feel the must do so, then charge the doctors and high level administrators; they are the most likely to be able to afford it and can more likely deduct it as an expense on their tax return.

[livecam]

I had to pay for parking at St. Francis in Honolulu and parking  also must be paid for at UCSD in San Diego.  Its just the way it is.

[Sara]

I don't understand how any medical facility could possibly justify charging anyone for parking! 

If they feel the must do so, then charge the doctors and high level administrators; they are the most likely to be able to afford it and can more likely deduct it as an expense on their tax return.

The parking garages in the 2 biggest hospitals in my city charge by the hour.   

[whitehorse]

Parking slots for the disabled are fairly common, I thought. The you only need either a car sticker or a different license plate.

[Hawkeye]

Parking slots for the disabled are fairly common, I thought. The you only need either a car sticker or a different license plate.

You are correct that the parking spaces are common and all you need is a placard or plate to use them, but they are talking about charging to use the spots regardless of the fact that you have the needed placard or plate.  Basically charging to park there as if it were some parking garage in downtown Chicago where you have no choice to pay the outrageous prices or get your car towed for parking on the street.

[whitehorse]

just a minute, what country are you talking about ?     "the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust". NHS(national health service) sounds like England or some foreign  place .

[okarol]

just a minute, what country are you talking about ?     "the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust". NHS(national health service) sounds like England or some foreign  place .

Yes Whitehorse, the story is from the United Kingdom.

[Ohio Buckeye]

In Columbus Riverside charges for parking and the drs. building across the street
charges for parking.  I hate to go there because of that.  When I have a dr.
referral I always say "Don't send me to Riverside area", but it is like they don't
even hear me and always send me there.