Praise for hospitals' 'fair' parking charge

Shropshire's two main hospitals have been praised for not overcharging "vulnerable" cancer patients in their car parks.

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford's Princess Royal have been given the thumbs up by cancer charity Macmillan for making "a real difference" to the pocket's of cancer sufferers.

The charity has branded hospital car parking charges in other parts of the country excessive.

But it said Shropshire's two were setting a refreshing trend.

More than half of cancer patients do not get free or discounted parking when they visit other hospitals but the PRH and RSH charge a maximum capped daily fee of £2, with long term patients able to buy a 10-day pass for £10.

Macmillan general manager George Briggs said: "We have identified some hospitals that are showing the way by taking steps to help cancer patients with their parking costs and I am delighted to commend the Royal Shrewsbury and the Princess Royal Hospitals as two of these.

Vulnerable

"Cancer patients in Shrewsbury and Telford are given significant discounts, which make a real difference."

Shrewsbury pensioner Colin Stegeman, 73, had to fork out £40 a week in parking charges when his wife was admitted to a hospital in Yorkshire.

He said: "It's hard to take on the authorities when you're feeling vulnerable - shame on those who take that money. My wife was in hospital for four weeks being treated for myeloma and it was a 70-mile round trip to be with her.

"I discovered later from another carer that I could have paid a reduced rate, but no one told me about this and I was turned down when I asked for a refund.

"There was no way of knowing what I was going to pay as prices weren't on display, I only found out at the exit barrier."

Mr Briggs called on more hospitals to follows Shropshire's lead.

"When going to hospital to receive life-saving treatment, many vulnerable cancer patients are being burdened with this unavoidable cost. This is at a time when they should be focusing on their health and not worrying about money.

"It is time England followed the example set by Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, and scrapped this tax on illness."

By Jason Lavan