A tax on sickness or a way of paying for NHS?

For some it is a tax on sickness.

For others it is acceptable as long as it goes back into paying for NHS services and upkeep of the car parks.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which sparked anger by hiking prices by an average of almost 55 per cent in May 2016, and axed free parking for Blue Badge holders earlier this year, brought in £1.662m in 2016/17, up from £1.26m in 2015/16, and £917,000 in 2013/14. It also raised £9,000 in both 2016/17 and 2015/16 through parking fines.

Deputy chief executive Tim Bennett said: “Our prices are in line with the majority of other hospitals and we have to stress that all money collected from car parking goes back into patient care.

“While charges have increased we have undertaken an awareness campaign to highlight that parking concessions are available, including free parking for haematology or oncology patients undergoing regular treatment or attending appointments, free parking for carers or relatives of patients who have been in hospital for more than two weeks and free parking for three relatives of a dying patient.”

Visitors to the hospital, in Whinney Heys Road, were left shocked by last year’s price rise, which saw the minimum fee rise from £1.40 to £2.50. Bosses said the income would be used to pay off £11m owed for the building of a multi-storey car park opened in 2014, and said the charges remained comparative to other hospitals. Here’s what you had to say.

If you don’t have a car and use public transport should you get your travel to the hospital for free when you’re visiting someone? Well those who rely on public transport don’t get that supplied free so why should car parking at the hospital be free?

I wholly support staff car parking being free or a nominal low annual permit fee for guaranteed parking.

I’m also happy to pay for parking when I visit hospital whether I’m a patient or a visitor. I personally think BVH parking charges are pretty reasonable.

I also believe that there should be dispensations for visitors of patients in A+E. The last thing anyone should have to worry about in that situation is finding the right change for a parking meter.

Riccy Caunce

Parking at hospitals should be free just like they are in Scotland

Alan Bruckman

Why moan about parking charges at an NHS hospital, when you get free healthcare. Why not go private? Pay for healthcare, and then you will get free parking

Gareth McBride

It’s not free health care, it’s free at the point of access but it’s pre-paid by every tax payer.

Chris Serella

I agree you should have to pay to park, but it’s just another money making method for the NHS by putting prices up by 55 per cent

Toby Beswick

I believe in paying at the hospital but the thing is you never knows how long you’re going to be there.

Elizabeth Dawes

I think it should just be £1 for the duration of your stay. You cannot predict how long you will be in there.

Sharon Morrell

I’m a patient at the Christie in Manchester and it is £1.50 all day unless having radiotherapy or chemotherapy then it’s free. I’ve been a patient since 2008 and it’s always been this. Disable parking free of course. Why can’t all hospitals be as reasonable as this?

Nick Taylor

Staff shouldn’t have to pay but BVH is pretty cheap compared to some I’ve been to. You can’t expect everything for free

Daz Makinson

Should give 10 mins free parking in the multi storey car park .. cost my husband £2.50 just to pick me up after an operation

Sarah Auty

If I have to pay £4 to park while my baby is checked by nurses and doctors then I’m more than happy to. Small price to pay for healthcare

Aneliesa Forshaw

There is no right or wrong in this in my opinion. I have a son that stayed in a Liverpool hospital and we as a family had to pay on a daily basis to park there, taking time off work, losing pay so why is it right for one but not another. If everyone pays then it’s a fair deal

Vickie Lawson

I have a badge and have no objection whatsoever to pay for a space, the availability to park nearer the door is what the badge is about not a freebie

Wendy Hindle

I have no issue about paying for parking my problem is they charge staff a fee for parking. They go and provide us with the care we need and they then have to pay to park. That’s a disgrace

Allison Hunton

I’m a student nurse and have to pay for parking whileworking on placement, paying an additional £9,250 per year for the privilege of being taught.

Nadine Mason

I thought staff parking was at the back of the Zoo and the hospital bus takes you to the Vic? No charge in either one.

Maria Carlin

A 15 minute walk at the start of your shift, arriving before handover, working a long day, handing over to night shift, then a 15 minute walk back to your car, in addition to a half an hour drive each way, makes your day 16 hours long, which doesn’t include getting ready for work

Nadine Mason

No hospital in Scotland is allowed to charge for parking unless it’s a privately funded hospital.

Kevin McIv

It’s not just Blackpool – I was at Preston this morning, they’re doing the same. Rightly so. We all use the facilities

Annemarie Gregory