Letter to papers - 30th Oct 2009

The Editor
East Kent Gazette/Sheppey Gazette (via email)

Dear Madam

Over a year ago I complained about the Government’s refusal to scrap hospital car parking charges in England, despite seeing those charges abolished in both Scotland and Wales.

Labour ministers said that it was not a sensible use of NHS funds to subsidise car parking in England, maintaining that axing parking charges would be contrary to the Government’s climate change objectives.

At the time I was roundly criticised by our local MP, Derek Wyatt, who insisted I was wrong and that the Government had already taken action to help people who use their car when visiting Medway Maritime Hospital. Of course, this was utter nonsense, as anybody who has ever visited Medway Maritime could have told him.

Now Mr Wyatt tells us (EKG Oct 28th) how delighted he is that the Government is to scrap hospital car parking charges and goes on to boast about how he has been campaigning for the last seven years for this action. If that is indeed the case, it’s a pity he couldn’t bring himself to support me last year!

Whilst I welcome yet another Government U-turn in the face of Conservative pressure, I will believe it when I see it! The problem is that Mr Wyatt used enough weasel words in his letter to leave us deeply suspicious about Labour’s true intentions.

For instance, Mr Wyatt admits that the Government has made such a mess of the country’s finances that they “can’t do it overnight, but over the next three years, as we can afford it, the Government aims to phase out car-parking charges for in-patients”. Notice the words “next three years” (if they are still in power!) and “phase out” (some people are going to have to wait for action!).

In addition, Mr Wyatt mentions only the scrapping of car parking charges for “in-patients”. What about all those people who have to make regular visits to the hospital as out-patients? Am I alone in suspecting that parking charges for those people will be increased to cover the loss of income from in-patients? I think we should be told.

Yours sincerely

Gordon Henderson