Parking in NHS hospital car parks is too often a nightmare, shows new Which? research.
Most people want regular
out-patients and carers of in-patients
to get free or low-cost hospital parking.
High charges, finding a space and confusing payment systems are just some of the problems faced by the over 1000 people surveyed.
Around half agreed that NHS hospital car parking arrangements had made their visit/s to hospital more stressful.
Sixty-seven per cent of people think parking charges are too expensive.
Frequent long waits for a space mean that car parking capacity is as much of an issue for consumers as the charges.
The fact that 72 per cent of adults (excluding hospital staff) have used a hospital car park in the past 2 years shows just how far-reaching this issue is.
Which? Chief Executive Peter Vicary-Smith said: "It's outrageous that using an NHS hospital car park is such a problematic experience for so many people. Visiting hospital is stressful enough and people don't need the added burden of battling with the parking system.
"Now we know what people want, the government must take steps to fix the system and ensure all hospital car parks have sufficient capacity, offer fair prices and have user-friendly ways to pay."
Previous Which? research found that some hospital car parks make over £1 million in annual profit.
By the end of 2011 parking in most Welsh hospital car parks will be free for patients, staff and visitors. This may mean car park running costs come out of healthcare budgets.
Which? isn't calling for hospital car parking to be free, just fairer. Their recommendations to the government include discounts for regular users and lowering charges so that they cover costs but don't make a profit.
Email us with your hospital car parking experiences.