Call on Parliament to make hospital parking free for patients, staff and visitors

Mr Hill has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling on the Government to make parking free for all NHS staff, patients and visitors.

It follows the Department of Health last week announcing plans to make parking free for disabled blue badge holders who need to attend for long-term conditions, parents with sick children staying overnight and staff on night shifts.

Mr Hill said: “I have campaigned for a long time for hospital car parking to be free, and was proud to see the Labour Party pledge to deliver on that in its General Election manifesto.

“The Tory Party also acknowledged this was an issue in their manifesto and fair play to them they have incorporated their proposals into the Queen’s Speech; but while their plans are a step in the right direction they don’t go far enough.”

He said nobody could argue against the plans for free parking but added: “But what about those attending A&E or Urgent Care, or visitors rushing to be by the side of sick loved ones or friends and what about the staff who work day shifts undertaking the same duties on the same wards and in the same circumstances?”

Mr Hill’s motion asks the House of Commons to note the current ‘unreasonably high charges’ across the UK, calls them an unfair levy on vulnerable people, and calls on the Government to legislate for hospital parking to be free for everyone.

Early Day Motions are used by MPs to draw the attention of the Commons to a particular issue, event or campaign, but are not guaranteed to be debated as they have no fixed date.

Mr Hill added: “In the last Parliament there were several Early Day Motions either instigated or signed by Conservative MPs calling for universal free parking, so I know deep down the support for the principal is there.

“My EDM, aims to restimulate the call for free parking for all patients, visitors and staff and to galvanise support across the House.”