Hospital bosses in Newcastle have defended a decision to massively increase parking charges – and hinted that NHS staff in the city could soon have to pay to park again.
Higher tariffs came into force at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital on July 1, with the cost more than doubling in some cases. But city councillors were told on Thursday that the price hike had been successful in deterring commuters from taking spaces away from patients and hospital staff.
Newcastle City Council’s health scrutiny committee heard that the problem had become particularly apparent at the RVI as its car park, previously cheaper than other sites in the city centre, would fill up shortly after 9am and lead to big queues on surrounding streets and even back onto the Central Motorway – making it hard for ambulances and taxis to get to hospital. Parking all day at one of the Newcastle Hospitals sites previously cost £7.20 on a weekday and just £3.60 at weekends, but a stay longer than five hours now incurs an £18 charge.
.jpg?w=600)
