VISITORS and patients at Queen Alexandra Hospital face another price hike in car park charges.
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Cosham-hospital, has announced the three per cent rise will come in to effect from Tuesday, April 2.
Currently people pay £1.60 to park for an hour, but from next month this will rise to £1.70.
Carillion, which manages the hospital’s car parks, decided to increase the prices.
Glen Hewlett, director of development and estates said: ‘On Tuesday, April 2, Carillion, which manage the trust’s car parks, will increase the car parking charges by an average 3.37 per cent.
‘While the trust recognises Carillion’s contractual right to increase car parking charges in line with the Retail Price Index, we are very disappointed these increased charges are to be introduced.’
Here are the changes:
n Up to one hour changes from £1.60 to £1.70
n Up to two hours rises from £2.70 to £2.80
n Up to three hours rises from £4 to £4.10
n Up to four hours rises from £5 to £5.10
n Up to six hours rises from £7.20 to £7.30
n More than six hours rises from £9.30 to £9.50
n More than eight hours rises from £11 to £11.10
n More than 12 hours rises from £16.50 to £16.60
Terry Carter, chairman of the patient support group Portsmouth Link, hit out at the price rises..
He said: ‘It is disappointing to see the charges go up again.
‘There needs to be a different approach to parking fees at hospitals, as people do not choose to go there.
‘It’s not commercial, like parking to go shopping.
‘But because of the PFI agreement, it’s out of the hospital trust board’s hands and in Carillion’s.’
Some reduced rates will still be available.
Vehicles displaying a disabled sticker will pay £1.70 per day.
And patients and visitors can receive a reduced rate if they are at the hospital for seven days or more, or having continuous treatment. They will have to pay £1.70 per day.
This reduced rate is at the discretion of the ward sister or nurse in charge.
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