The true cost of hospital parking uncovered – and why charges should be SCRAPPED
Brits are being forced to shell out on hospital parking to get treatment for regular illnesses. Since new guidelines were introduced in 2014 almost half of hospitals have hiked hourly rates
HOSPITAL patients and visitors are paying up to £15 a day to park on site.
The steep hourly rates meaning getting free NHS treatment can actually end up costing a packet.
A new study by dealer Robins and Day has revealed how much Brits are having to shell out across the country.
Londoners face day rates of £15 but it's not much better in the north where Glaswegian patients are hit with charges of £13.60 for eight hours.
By contrast, a trip to A&E in Sheffield will set you back just £3.70 for the day.
And MPs are calling for hospitals to scrap these exorbitant charges after almost half of sites were found to have hiked rates since 2014 guidelines were introduced.
Last year, NHS hospitals pocketed £174million from patients, visitors and staff - up six per cent on the previous year.
Tory MP Robert Halfon, who is campaigning for the scrappage backed by the RAC and MacMillan Cancer Support charity, said: "These parking fees are a stealth tax on patients, on the vulnerable, including the the elderly and disabled, on visitors, and on staff.
"We say that he NHS is free, yet people with cars seem to have to pay."
Parents of children with cancer spend up to £50 a week on hospital parking while treatment for other conditions is also eye-wateringly high.
Attending anxiety and depression treatment costs £40 and a series of pre-natal appointments will set you back on average £37.
Recovery from a heart attack is priced at £34 in parking charges while a broken leg will land you a £23 parking bill.
The study by found over 60 per cent of people wanted to scrap hospital parking fees - with just 20 per cent able or willing to take public transport to hospitals.
A spokesman for MacMillan Cancer Support said: "The core principle of the NHS is to provide free healthcare for all at the point of access.
"But sadly some cancer patients in England are paying extortionate hospital car parking charges in order to access treatment for a life-threatening illness."