"Car Park Charges"

After searching the internet about parking charges, I found the majority are about people visiting sick relatives. What about patients?

Only one article mentioned that Q Park the contractors offer a concessionary tick. It quotes,

"We recognise there are certain circumstances when patients, visitors and carers should be considered for reduced rates of parking. These include when people are visiting the hospital three or more times a week, for a prolonged period of time. Our ward managers and sisters are most aware of these people, and can offer concessionary parking rates accordingly. Senior nurses in our outpatient department can offer concessionary parking rates to people who visit the department frequently. These people are considered on a case-by-case basis"

Well I am sorry but since March we have been hammered by charges. Not one person has offered any information about concessionary charges and when I inquired at the Q Park kiosk nothing was offered. My wife has cancer and has been to the hospital nearly every other week from March to August when she had surgery. Still more visits to come but so far I estimate £150 has been paid because my wife is sick. The only thing we have been told is when she attends daily for Radiotherapy a pass can then be issued because the visits are of short duration. One of the things I hated was tripping over from the 2 hour band to the 4 hour usually by 5 to 10 minutes (there is no 3 hour band). The only other problem is having the car parks at the furthest point from the Cancer Department and you loose 10-15 minutes each time walking, depending on how well she feels.

The lesson here is to ask and not accept the first negative answer but press for information.