Hospitals imposing stealth taxes

The Daily Telegraph reported this week that English NHS hospitals in 2007 charged visitors and outpatients the sum of £10.3 million, a rise of 5.25% on the previous year, to park cars.

The two highest money raising hospitals, Southampton University and Norfolk and Norwich University, raised £1.4 million and £1.2 million respectively.

Hospitals are claiming that once they have met the costs incurred by those who operate the parking for them, usually local authorities or private companies, any residue will be devoted to medical purposes.

The hospitals need the money because their budgets are being slashed, - they are always short of what they need. In this way they are saving the NHS money.

But the patient and visitors have to pay! They have to pay often because there is no other place to park, given the location of the hospital. They are confronted by a monopoly supplier of parking.

Taxpayers are already paying thousands of pounds each towards an under-performing NHS which does not meet standards in other European countries, and when they or their loved ones are ill, they are required to park or else use expensive taxis. . The vice-chairman of the Patients Association described it as "an absolute scandal".