25 signatures reached
To: Simon Stevens, Chief Executive Officer, NHS England
Disabled Parking at Hospitals in England
Disabled people are being forced to pay for parking at more and more hospitals in England.
We call on Health Trusts in England to STOP charging Blue Badge holders for parking at hospitals.
We call on Health Trusts in England to STOP charging Blue Badge holders for parking at hospitals.
Why is this important?
England is the only part of the UK where hospitals routinely charge patients and visitors for parking at all.
Guidance by the Department of Health & Social Care is that concessions should be available for disabled people.*
Free parking should be allowed for disabled people because they:
> Are commonly forced to visit hospital more frequently, precisely because of their disabilities
> Generally have much lower incomes, often less than half the national average
> Are much more likely to live in poverty**
> Often have to meet extra costs directly caused by their disabilities
* https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles#fn:2
** https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-facts-and-figures/disability-facts-and-figures#living-standards
Guidance by the Department of Health & Social Care is that concessions should be available for disabled people.*
Free parking should be allowed for disabled people because they:
> Are commonly forced to visit hospital more frequently, precisely because of their disabilities
> Generally have much lower incomes, often less than half the national average
> Are much more likely to live in poverty**
> Often have to meet extra costs directly caused by their disabilities
* https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles#fn:2
** https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-facts-and-figures/disability-facts-and-figures#living-standards
