YORK Hospital chiefs have defended a hike of nearly £200,000 in parking revenue, saying the rise is due to creating more spaces for patients.

Freedom of Information Act figures show that the hospital made £744,311 from car parking revenue in 2006/7 - a rise from £560,000 the year before.

Alison Hughes, the hospital's director of strategy and facilities, said the reason revenue had shot up was because 60 more spaces had been created for patients over the last year.

"We've increased the number of visitor and patient spaces by 60 - we haven't put our prices up," said Ms Hughes.

"We've leased some parking space at Nuffield - there are 100 staff parking at Nuffield now - just to help relieve pressure on this site for relatives and for staff.

"It (parking revenue) pays for a 24-hour security presence on the site, and we have seen a reduction in crime on the site by having security people here.

"It's paid to help implement our green travel policies - we've used some of the money to pay for a secure cycle accommodation. It goes to maintaining the car parks, and the balance goes towards patient care."

Charging patients to park at hospitals has come under fire from Macmillan Cancer Support - which wants to see exemptions for seriously-ill patients who have to make frequent hospital trips.

Maureen Rutter, who works from the charity's area office in York, said: "I am shocked to hear of the large increase in money raised from parking charges at York Hospital.

"When the Government announced its revised hospital car parking guidance last year, Macmillan fully expected NHS trusts to look again at their car parking policies and exempt patients, such as those with cancer, who often have to make lengthy, repeat visits for treatment. But its looks as if the situation is getting worse rather than better."

Ms Hughes said the hospital did have a range of concessions in place at the hospital, including for patients who had to come for treatment over a long period of time.

She said: "We feel we have concessionary parking in place where patients have issues and that we wouldn't want to label anybody with having a diagnosis who can therefore get differential treatment from anyone else.

"Someone who's had multiple injuries in a car crash may have just as strong a case as someone with cancer. We look at cases on an individual's needs and requirements and we try to respond appropriately to those rather than on a blanket diagnosis."

The hospital argues that it introduced parking charges to match those of City of York Council's neighbouring Union Terrace car park.

This was done to prevent people parking for free at Wigginton Road and blocking spaces that could have been free for patients and visitors.

PATIENTS and visitors to York Hospital currently pay £1.30 to stay for up to an hour. Two hours' parking costs £2.60.

The hospital has in place a range of concessions and exemptions to its car parking charges.

Next of kin visiting dying and critically ill patients are offered free parking in A&E, and in the visitor's car park if that is full.

A concessionary rate is offered for:

  • patients coming for treatment over a long period
  • women in labour
  • parents who have children on the children's ward
  • visitors to patients who have been in hospital for more than 14 days
  • close relatives of patients receiving care under the Mental Health Act
  • voluntary workers.

Disabled people with a Blue Badge do not have to pay to park at York Hospital.

Patients can also apply for car park concessions if they feel they have an exceptional case.