Parking revenue up by 6pc at hospitals
Health bosses at Stafford and Cannock hospitals have taken a six per cent rise in parking revenue after an increase in fees for patients and visitors.
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust has taken £367,433 from motorists at both sites since the new tariffs were introduced in January. The figure compares to £346,162 from the same period last year.
This marks a rise in revenue of £21,271. Today, hospital bosses maintained the new charges were brought in to reduce congestion and not to raise money for the trust.
Chris Eccles, associate director of estates and facilities at the trust, said: "The alteration to parking charges was just one element of an ongoing programme to improve flow and reduce congestion in our car parks."
He said it was too early to judge if the change in prices had achieved the aim. "We cannot yet comment on whether this has been successful, as other measures, such as road widening have yet to be implemented."
The new parking charges range from 80p for up to 30 minutes to £6 for 24 hours, with several increments in between. They were previously £2 for up to four hours, £4 for between four and eight hours and £8 for eight to 24 hours.
The highest rise was a 50 per cent jump from £4 to £6 for people staying between seven and eight hours, although fees dropped from £8 to £6 for people staying longer than eight hours.
Revised rates of £2.50 for one to two hours, £3 for two to three hours, £3.50 for three to five hours and £4 for five to seven hours were brought in from January.
Aaron Cummins, director of finance at the trust, said: "The zero to four hours' rate previously charged encouraged people to arrive early for appointments and stay later – for example to have lunch, and at Cannock we are aware that some people who paid for four hours also went into the town after visiting the hospital."
