Long-term hospital patients may be allowed free parking

FREE car parking for patients with long-term conditions like cancer is on the cards as part of a review affecting three hospitals in the region.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is considering dropping charges for those who have to attend hospital more than eight times in a 30-day period or have to spend a night in hospital with a sick child.

The proposals, which will affect car parks at Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole hospitals, will be considered in January, and if agreed implemented in March.

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Other visitors, however, now face paying a charge if they stay over 20 minutes. Currently the first 40 minutes is free. A new charging regime will see visitors paying 1.70 for the first two hours (up 20p) and 2.70 (up 30p) for between two and four hours.

A spokesman said patients would be able to get a free pass at the start of treatment.

The move was welcomed by Macmillan Cancer Support. Head of policy Mike Hobday said : "It sounds absolutely brilliant. The costs of hospital car parking are a big burden on cancer patients who have to go to hospital on average 50 times over the course of their treatment."

Other new measures include free staff car parking for anyone driving vehicles powered by alternative sources such as electric, LPG or hybrid vehicles. Director of Facilities Management Nigel Myhill said: "The range of measures we are proposing in the new policy are aimed at ensuring the Trust contributes towards targets to reducing carbon emissions, while ensuring those who need access to our hospitals get it."