SHONA MCISAAC HAS WELCOMED a promise to end hospital car parking charges.

If you are on a fixed income, the parking charges are a cost you can do without. If you need to park for more than 40 minutes, the minimum charge is £1.50. And if you are visiting someone who is in hospital for a long stay, the costs really mount up. I know of people who would love to visit more often, but can’t afford it. In our area, this is especially true if you have to cross the Humber Bridge for regular cancer treatment or to visit someone in Hull. The combined costs of the tolls and the parking add up.

‘Over the years, a lot of people have voiced their concerns to me about these costs. There is a scheme to help with travel costs to hospital, but it isn’t available to everyone.’

Andy Burnham announced the abolition of hospital parking charges at Labour’s annual conference in Brighton.

‘When people are coming in to hospital, the last thing they want to worry about is keeping the car parking ticket up-to-date. But, for families of the sickest patients, the costs can really rack up.

‘It's not right if some people don't get visitors every day because families can't afford the parking fees. And yet we all know that having friends and family around helps patients get better more quickly.

‘I am clear we will make year-on-year savings from back-office costs and I want to see some of those benefits coming back directly to patients and their families.

‘We can't do it overnight. But, over the next three years, as we can afford it, I want to phase out car parking charges for in-patients, giving each a permit for the length of their stay which family and friends can use.’

30 September 2009

Check below to see if you are entitled to help with costs to travel to hospital.

You may be entitled to help with the cost of travel if a doctor or dentist sends you for NHS treatment or a test.

The Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) is for patients who do not have a medical need for ambulance transport and who cannot afford the cost of travel.

You may be entitled to HTCS if you or your partner get any of these benefits:

·           Income Support

·           income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

·           income-related Employment and Support Allowance

·           the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit

Some people receiving tax credits or on a low income may also be entitled to help.

You can claim travel costs of a companion if you need someone to travel with you for medical reasons. Their travel costs are counted as part of your travel costs.

Claiming your travel costs

You should use the cheapest means of transport available, which is usually public transport.

If you travel by car, you can claim back for fuel used, plus unavoidable car parking and toll charges, up to the cost of making the same journey by public transport.

Further information

The NHS Choices website has more detailed information about the scheme:

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Travelcosts.aspx