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British Parking Association supports need for fair and transparent management of hospital parking
In response to the recently published findings of a Which? report on the best and worst NHS hospital car parks in England, the British Parking Association (BPA) today announces its continued support for reasonable and proportionate enforcement, as well as the need for car park charges to remain in place.
In March 2010, the BPA published a Charter for Hospital Parking designed to help and encourage NHS Trusts to engage parking management systems that are fair for all.
Bringing together the interests of hospital car park users (staff, visitors and patients), Government, local authorities and commercial organisations, the Charter has been circulated to all NHS Trusts across the UK. Its aim is to strike the right balance between fairness for patients and visitors and hospital staff, as well as the Trust itself.
The Charter sets out guidelines to help Trusts and car park operators deliver effective and efficient parking for users many of whom have particular needs. Hospital parking is subject to supply and demand like any other commodity or service so charging is important but Trusts should offer concessionary parking where appropriate.
Charges were not introduced to generate income but, rather, to ensure that key staff, bona-fide patients and visitors are able to park at the hospital. Without income to support the car park maintenance security, upkeep of facilities and staff funds that should be dedicated to healthcare provisions would have to be used instead.
It is ultimately the patients and visitors who benefit from managed hospital car parks. The BPA believe that it is absolutely critical that hospitals - particularly those within urban areas - set car parking charges at a rate which will deter commuters and shoppers who may abuse the system, as was the case before charges were introduced.
Patrick Troy, the BPAs Chief Executive said, Good parking management raises standards in hospital car parks to the benefit of all users. Money raised from car park charges should be ploughed back into maintaining and enhancing car park facilities to raise standards still further.
Our Charter is gaining support from a number of NHS Trusts, including Blackpool and Poole, North Tees and Hartlepool and Milton Keynes. All have indicated their support by signing the Charter and more are expected to follow in the coming weeks.
Bringing together the interests of hospital car park users (staff, visitors and patients), Government, local authorities and commercial organisations, the Charter has been circulated to all NHS Trusts across the UK. Its aim is to strike the right balance between fairness for patients and visitors and hospital staff, as well as the Trust itself.
The Charter sets out guidelines to help Trusts and car park operators deliver effective and efficient parking for users many of whom have particular needs. Hospital parking is subject to supply and demand like any other commodity or service so charging is important but Trusts should offer concessionary parking where appropriate.
Charges were not introduced to generate income but, rather, to ensure that key staff, bona-fide patients and visitors are able to park at the hospital. Without income to support the car park maintenance security, upkeep of facilities and staff funds that should be dedicated to healthcare provisions would have to be used instead.
It is ultimately the patients and visitors who benefit from managed hospital car parks. The BPA believe that it is absolutely critical that hospitals - particularly those within urban areas - set car parking charges at a rate which will deter commuters and shoppers who may abuse the system, as was the case before charges were introduced.
Patrick Troy, the BPAs Chief Executive said, Good parking management raises standards in hospital car parks to the benefit of all users. Money raised from car park charges should be ploughed back into maintaining and enhancing car park facilities to raise standards still further.
Our Charter is gaining support from a number of NHS Trusts, including Blackpool and Poole, North Tees and Hartlepool and Milton Keynes. All have indicated their support by signing the Charter and more are expected to follow in the coming weeks.
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