Revealed – The rip-off hospital ATMs where patients and relatives are forced to PAY to withdraw cash
A staggering three quarters of UK hospitals have no free-to-use cash machines - despite it often being difficult for patients and relatives to leave the hospital grounds
THREE quarters of UK hospitals with pay-to-use cash machines have no free alternatives - leaving patients and relatives with no choice but to use the costly ATMs.
Analysis of data by Which? Money has uncovered that 22 hospitals have a pay-to-use ATM, with only five providing another free machine.
And 16 of these NHS hospitals are charging above the national going rate, meaning hospitals are cashing in whenever patients, staff or relatives need to take money out on the premises.
Most people manage to avoid incurring costly charges when they take out cash from one of the UK's 70,000 cash machines, because there is usually a free ATM nearby.
But for those in hospitals, they are less likely to be able to leave in search of a free machine - because they are receiving treatment, providing care or are a relative.
One of the hospitals charging £1.99 to withdraw money - more than the national median average of £1.75 - is Glangwilli Hospital in Wales.
Hywel Dda University Health Board, which runs the hospital, was sued in 2016 for £100,000 by a patient who alleged staff told him to walk 23 miles home at 2am after forgetting his wallet.
It had argued that patient Peter Rees, 65, could have ordered a taxi and paid when he got home.
Another is Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, which cares for seriously ill patients who require emergency treatment.
It is run by the same NHS trust where two other hospitals have no free-to-use cash point.
Of the 24 cash machines charging for use, 19 are owned by Cardtronics, which is the biggest ATM operator in the UK.
Harry Rose, Which? Money editor, said: "We found that families getting cash for taxis to take patients home and nurses coming off shift late a night may have no choice but to use costly ATMs.
"These people - effectively a captive audience for cash point providers - will be frustrated to learn they are being charged above average fees to take their money out."
MOST READ IN NEWS
The Sun Online has contacted the relevant hospital trusts and Cardtronics for comment.
Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust said: “There are a number of options for patients, staff and visitors to withdraw cash free of charge on site, including an ATM at the WHSmith store and free cashback available at retailers.
“A couple of the machines do require payment of a £1.99 fee, and it is at the discretion of users which they select.”
Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust said: “Withdrawal charges cover the cost of running the machines and go directly to the service provider. Contracts are reviewed each time they come to an end.
"However, providers determine the installation of free-to-use machines by the number of potential users. Footfall at each hospital is unlikely to hit the necessary threshold to make this possible.”
A spokesperson for Northumbria Healthcare Trust said: "For their comfort and peace of mind we are keen that our patients and their families have access to as many facilities as possible while staying in/ visiting one of our hospitals. Where possible this includes having straightforward, ‘on demand’ access to cash.
"To operate and manage our own ATMs would be expensive, so we reached an agreement with a supplier that means patients and their families can easily make use of an ATM on a number of our sites.
“This ensures that NHS resources can be focused where they should and always have been: on patient care.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.