Hospital car park fee plans

CAR park charges at the North Cambridgeshire Hospital, Wisbech, are set to more than double and visitors to Doddington Hospital, where parking is currently free, could soon be forced to pay.Health chiefs agreed on Wednesday to raise the charges at Wisbech, with effect from February 1, to £2.50 for up to three hours, and £5 for 3-5 hours. If you park at Wisbech for between five and eight hours it will now cost you £7, although weekly permits for visitors of long-term patients or frequent attenders will be on sale for £5.A report to the East Cambs and Fenland Primary Care Trust said keeping parking free at Doddington and at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely was "clearly inequitable".The PCT says car parking at Wisbech has been historically linked to arrangements at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn.Sharon Fox, head of corporate affairs, told the PCT: "Car parking charges have not increased since the PCT took over the management of the hospital in April, 2002. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has increased car parking levies and the board is asked to approve a similar increase."In addition to approving rises for the Wisbech site, the board is to convene a working group to develop proposals for charging at both Doddington and Ely."The working group will report back to the board in April with its findings," said Ms Fox. "Introduction of car parking charges will bring equity across the PCT but car parking is always an emotion issue."She added: "Clearly the introduction of car parking charges across the PCT is a sensitive issue and will have implications for both patients and staff. "The working group will, therefore, find it helpful to consider processes undertaken by other organisations when introducing car parking fees, should the PCT decide to go through this route.