Anger of hospital Pay and Display (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Anger of hospital Pay and Display

CIRENCESTER Hospital is to introduce controversial pay and display car parking for visitors from the middle of October, much to the anger of patient groups.

Richard James, chief executive of Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust, which runs the hospital said the measure had been taken to ensure visitors and workers can park safely.

He said: "Unfortunately, non-hospital users already park at the hospital, and this is likely to increase as the nearby leisure centre is completed.

"Introducing the new parking charges will deter those who abuse the facilities and ensure that there is space for everyone who needs to park there."

But Alan Waller, a member of the Patient Forum, which represents users of Cirencester Hospital, hit out at the scheme saying it will.

He said: "At the time when the PCT is proposing to reduce beds in Fairford, Bourton and Tetbury this shows, in our view, a complete disregard and contempt for patients and their visitors by PCT bureaucrats in their ivory towers.

"The PCT promised, publicly, that it would liaise with the forums before implementing these changes, but we were presented with a fait accompli last week.

"At the recent AGM, chief executive Richard James and financial director Robert Knibbs stood up and said the PCT had failed with their last financial recovery plan to get the PCT out of debt.

"So now they are taking it out on vulnerable, elderly and needy hospital patients and visitors."

The charges, which have been set in line with other car parks in the town, start at £1 for up to one hour and rise to a maximum £5 for a full day.

There will be no charges for people with disabilities or for doctors, nurses, volunteers and support staff at the hospital.

The new venture is a partnership between Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust and Euro Car Parks, which will pay all the set up costs and provide a uniformed patrol officer.

The revenue raised from the new car parking charges will be used to maintain the car parks and access roads to the hospital. Any surpluses will support patient services.