Chamber
Plenary, 17 Feb 2000
17 Feb 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Car Parking Charges (West Lothian)
The issue of charging for car parking in hospital grounds is one that generates a lot of attention. I recognise that it is doing so in West Lothian—although not only there, as Dr Simpson indicated. I am grateful for the opportunity to make one or two points in reply, and in particular to explain the policy that applies to car park charging by NHS trusts.
I will start by making a few general points. We all know that there are very few hospitals with sufficient space to cope with the demand for car parking within hospital grounds. Car park spaces,
therefore, are at a premium. People often arrive at hospital under stress. They are not helped by selfish motorists, some of whom may not even be in the hospital, who abuse the car park system. The inevitable results include double parking, parking on yellow lines, pavement parking, the use of disabled bays by non-disabled individuals and unsafe access to main entrances at peak times. Hazards are created for staff, patients, visitors and ambulance crews. Complaints and frustrations sometimes can lead to difficult, and even violent, situations.
Hospitals are encouraged to be crime conscious, but cars parked in hospital car parks are easy targets and are often broken into and vandalised. The introduction of additional security inevitably means increased costs for trusts. No one wants the funds for that security to be diverted from the funds for direct patient care. The decision to charge for car parking facilities is one that must be taken locally by trusts. In considering proposals to charge, trusts are best placed to address all the issues in the light of local circumstances and to take account of the needs of staff, patients and visitors.
Car park charging in hospitals is well precedented throughout the UK. In Scotland, a number of NHS trusts have already introduced schemes. Those schemes had the approval of the Scottish Executive health department, and took into account the ground rules that were drawn up. Indeed, as a couple of this evening's contributors indicated, trusts and health boards have recently been reminded of those ground rules. We expect them to be applied consistently when consideration is being given to implementing charging schemes.
I am happy to re-emphasise those ground rules for Fiona Hyslop. First, any decision to charge for parking must not be driven by a desire to generate income for patient care. Secondly, the trust board must be able to justify the proposals, for reasons such as the need to cover the cost of expanding parking facilities, to make existing facilities more secure or to better manage existing facilities. Thirdly, in considering proposals, trusts are asked to consider inviting tenders from commercial contractors, to ensure best value. Finally, and above all, staff, patients and visitors need to be consulted about the proposals. Trusts are trying to improve the situation for patients but, of course, during the consultation process, they need to set out clearly the reasons for the need to charge.
St John's West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust has significant parking congestion problems on the St John's Hospital site. Mary Mulligan and James Douglas-Hamilton have confirmed that from personal experience. The trust feels that the level of complaints and the frustration caused by the current lack of car parking cannot be sustained. There are a number of reasons for that. The increasingly intensive use of St John's Hospital, the phased closure of Bangour Village Hospital and the increasing use of clinical services by residents from the west side of Edinburgh mean that the trust has to ensure that adequate parking facilities are available.
The trust has been considering several options, one of which is to increase the number of parking spaces from 900 to more than 1,100, and to double the number of parking spaces for the disabled to 70. However, we encourage other solutions and, as Bristow Muldoon made clear, there are other solutions that should be looked at.
In my constituency of Edinburgh Pentlands, West Lothian Council and Edinburgh City Council recently combined to secure a much-needed bus service from Currie and Balerno to St John's. In addition, I recently attended the opening of the new Pentland Medical Centre by the Minister for Health and Community Care, which includes facilities for consultants from St John's to come to their patients in the west of Edinburgh, rather than having their patients travel, and doing so by car— at least, before the bus service comes on stream.
Measures such as those, which can reduce car parking problems by reducing car use, are to be welcomed and encouraged. The trust has worked with West Lothian Council to draw up a revised timetable for public transport to ensure access from every town and village in West Lothian, so there are other options that need to be explored.
In relation to car parking and the potential for charging, we have sought and been given an assurance by West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust that it took the decision to consider proposals for car park charging based on the urgent need to improve both the quantity and the quality of parking on the St John's site. I am further assured that any revenue accrued will be used to defray the cost of managing and maintaining the facility. The trust has taken no final decision about the way forward. It wishes to consult further and I expect it to do so. In particular, the trust will carry out a further traffic analysis survey and a survey of patients, visitors and staff.
I say to Mrs Mulligan that I expect the trust to get round the table with West Lothian Council and others who have an interest in this matter. Only then should a final decision be taken. I stress again that car park charging is a matter for local determination. I expect that West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust will act with the interests of patients, staff and visitors at heart and will carefully take account of all the views expressed before reaching a final decision.
I will start by making a few general points. We all know that there are very few hospitals with sufficient space to cope with the demand for car parking within hospital grounds. Car park spaces,
therefore, are at a premium. People often arrive at hospital under stress. They are not helped by selfish motorists, some of whom may not even be in the hospital, who abuse the car park system. The inevitable results include double parking, parking on yellow lines, pavement parking, the use of disabled bays by non-disabled individuals and unsafe access to main entrances at peak times. Hazards are created for staff, patients, visitors and ambulance crews. Complaints and frustrations sometimes can lead to difficult, and even violent, situations.
Hospitals are encouraged to be crime conscious, but cars parked in hospital car parks are easy targets and are often broken into and vandalised. The introduction of additional security inevitably means increased costs for trusts. No one wants the funds for that security to be diverted from the funds for direct patient care. The decision to charge for car parking facilities is one that must be taken locally by trusts. In considering proposals to charge, trusts are best placed to address all the issues in the light of local circumstances and to take account of the needs of staff, patients and visitors.
Car park charging in hospitals is well precedented throughout the UK. In Scotland, a number of NHS trusts have already introduced schemes. Those schemes had the approval of the Scottish Executive health department, and took into account the ground rules that were drawn up. Indeed, as a couple of this evening's contributors indicated, trusts and health boards have recently been reminded of those ground rules. We expect them to be applied consistently when consideration is being given to implementing charging schemes.
I am happy to re-emphasise those ground rules for Fiona Hyslop. First, any decision to charge for parking must not be driven by a desire to generate income for patient care. Secondly, the trust board must be able to justify the proposals, for reasons such as the need to cover the cost of expanding parking facilities, to make existing facilities more secure or to better manage existing facilities. Thirdly, in considering proposals, trusts are asked to consider inviting tenders from commercial contractors, to ensure best value. Finally, and above all, staff, patients and visitors need to be consulted about the proposals. Trusts are trying to improve the situation for patients but, of course, during the consultation process, they need to set out clearly the reasons for the need to charge.
St John's West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust has significant parking congestion problems on the St John's Hospital site. Mary Mulligan and James Douglas-Hamilton have confirmed that from personal experience. The trust feels that the level of complaints and the frustration caused by the current lack of car parking cannot be sustained. There are a number of reasons for that. The increasingly intensive use of St John's Hospital, the phased closure of Bangour Village Hospital and the increasing use of clinical services by residents from the west side of Edinburgh mean that the trust has to ensure that adequate parking facilities are available.
The trust has been considering several options, one of which is to increase the number of parking spaces from 900 to more than 1,100, and to double the number of parking spaces for the disabled to 70. However, we encourage other solutions and, as Bristow Muldoon made clear, there are other solutions that should be looked at.
In my constituency of Edinburgh Pentlands, West Lothian Council and Edinburgh City Council recently combined to secure a much-needed bus service from Currie and Balerno to St John's. In addition, I recently attended the opening of the new Pentland Medical Centre by the Minister for Health and Community Care, which includes facilities for consultants from St John's to come to their patients in the west of Edinburgh, rather than having their patients travel, and doing so by car— at least, before the bus service comes on stream.
Measures such as those, which can reduce car parking problems by reducing car use, are to be welcomed and encouraged. The trust has worked with West Lothian Council to draw up a revised timetable for public transport to ensure access from every town and village in West Lothian, so there are other options that need to be explored.
In relation to car parking and the potential for charging, we have sought and been given an assurance by West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust that it took the decision to consider proposals for car park charging based on the urgent need to improve both the quantity and the quality of parking on the St John's site. I am further assured that any revenue accrued will be used to defray the cost of managing and maintaining the facility. The trust has taken no final decision about the way forward. It wishes to consult further and I expect it to do so. In particular, the trust will carry out a further traffic analysis survey and a survey of patients, visitors and staff.
I say to Mrs Mulligan that I expect the trust to get round the table with West Lothian Council and others who have an interest in this matter. Only then should a final decision be taken. I stress again that car park charging is a matter for local determination. I expect that West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust will act with the interests of patients, staff and visitors at heart and will carefully take account of all the views expressed before reaching a final decision.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
We have a final item of business today, which is the members' business debate on motion S1M-475, in the name of Bristow Muldoon, on car parking charges. Inte...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes with concern the decision by West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust to introduce car park charging at St John's Hospital in Livingston; ...
Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab):
Lab
I want first to state clearly that, in raising the issue of proposed car parking charges, I intend no general criticism of West Lothian NHS Trust. Along with...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
Four members have asked to speak. All will be called if speeches are kept to about four minutes.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
I, too, welcome this debate. This issue is of major public concern in West Lothian and, indeed, in west Edinburgh, and it has generated considerable heat. I ...
Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab):
Lab
I support much of what Bristow Muldoon and Fiona Hyslop have said, so I will not repeat it. On a number of occasions when I have been to St John's, it has be...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con):
Con
Bristow Muldoon is to be warmly congratulated on securing this debate, which raises matters of great concern. When I visited the hospital, there was tremendo...
Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
I, too, congratulate Bristow Muldoon on raising this issue, not just because of what is happening at St John's, but because of the wider national implication...
The Deputy Minister for Community Care (Iain Gray):
Lab
The issue of charging for car parking in hospital grounds is one that generates a lot of attention. I recognise that it is doing so in West Lothian—although ...
Meeting closed at 17:32.