McGimpsey introduces free car-parking for patients and visitors

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey is to introduce free car-parking across Northern Ireland hospitals for very ill patients and their families.

Patients suffering from cancer, and require chemotherapy or radiotherapy and those receiving renal dialysis will not pay car-parking fees. Similarly, the next of kin or partner of a critically ill or high dependency patient will also receive free car parking.

Announcing the outcome of his review of car-parking, Michael McGimpsey said that it would also be up to the individual Trusts to decide whether to charge for car-parking for patients and visitors who have to make lengthy or frequent visits to hospital.

He said: “At the moment, many patients suffering from cancer and other serious conditions are entitled to free parking, however, there is no consistency across Northern Ireland. It is essential that very ill patients who attend hospital on a regular basis do not have the additional stress of worrying about paying for car parking.

“It is also important that the next of kin of critically ill or high dependency patients, who may be spending long periods in hospital, should not have to pay for parking. “

The Minister was speaking at Craigavon Hospital, where he also announced an additional 160 free car parking spaces for the site representing an investment of £450,000. In addition, there will be a further 150 new spaces by end of June and another 100 spaces by the autumn, bringing the total number of car-parking spaces to just over 1,310.

He continued: “The decision to charge for car-parking for all other people using hospital car-parks should be a local decision made by each individual Trust to reflect local circumstances.

“While I have specified which patients and visitors should not be charged, there are other situations in which people may have to visit hospital frequently or for lengthy periods and run up significant charges. I would expect Trusts to consider these situations carefully and exempt people from charges where appropriate.

“Charging for car-parking can be a useful way of discouraging inappropriate parking by non-hospital users and protecting spaces for those who need them. In addition, it may also be used towards the cost of maintaining car-parks.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health Minister announced a regional review of car parking at hospital sites following an Assembly debate on 19 June about car parking problems at Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry. The aim of the review was to establish a consistent car-parking policy across all health and social care trusts.
2. Five acute hospitals in Northern Ireland charge patients and staff for car parking. These are the Royal Group of Hospitals (RGH), Belfast City Hospital (BCH), Mater, Ulster and Altnagelvin Hospitals.
3. On average, a patient visiting for an outpatient appointment that does not involve treatment or someone visiting an inpatient in hospital would spend one to two hours in the hospital and incur a charge of £1 to £1.50.
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