Julian Knight, parliamentary candidate for Solihull, has said that the new reduced cost parking scheme currently being trialled at Solihull hospital is "poorly advertised and nowhere near generous enough”.
The scheme was raised in a parliamentary debate on hospital parking on Monday, where it was said to allow people visiting relatives at Solihull Hospital to buy twenty parking tickets for the cost of £10; a much lower rate than the standard £5.75 daily parking tariff.
However, the Heart of England Trust does not advertise this on its website, stating instead that the £10 rate is only eligible for long-term patients. A mystery shop of the parking department of Solihull hospital carried out by anti-hospital parking campaigners has revealed widespread confusion about who is eligible for parking discounts.
What's more, it seems that individuals are not automatically eligible for the discount. It seems that it is entirely at the discretion of ward sisters whether or not visitors are told that there is an option for lower cost parking.
Julian Knight, called for major improvements to the scheme: "This looks to me as a nothing more than a gesture to try and head off the growing criticism of hospital parking charges at Solihull and Heartlands hospitals."
"If the Heart of England Trust was genuinely serious about easing the cost burden on patients and visitors they would advertise this scheme, place it on their own website and ensure everyone was told rather than simply burdening hard working ward sisters with the responsibility of deciding who gets discount parking and who doesn't."
Julian will be meeting with management at the Heart of England Trust in the next fortnight to press for fairer hospital charges. A survey of 40,000 homes in Solihull showed that 74% of people believe that hospital parking at Solihull hospital is too expensive.
"I won't rest until we get openness at our local hospital about services and parking charges. I believe an absolute key job of Solihull MP after 2015 is to question what the Trust is up to at every turn rather than simply believe the hype. This is my commitment to the people of Solihull."